re: Basketball recruiting 2014: Updated 9-6-12: Added Mike Thomas

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Two of the most intriguing prospects on Australia's national team are both contemplating permanent trips to the United States these next few months.

Both Ben Simmons, an elite 2015 forward prospect, and Dante Exum, a three-star 2014 guard, could be making their way to America soon.

Exum said he's ruled out coming to the States for his senior year, but he'll definitely be heading to college in America in 2014.

"My dad is from over here," said Exum, who's father Cecil was a member of the 1982 national champion North Carolina squad. "So that kind of influenced me to play college ball."

He has no idea where he wants to play for, however. He claims offers from LSU, Boise State and SMU right now, but admittedly hasn't even peeked into a college decision yet.

"I haven't really looked like deeply into schools," he said. "Like what really interests me with the coaches and some of the players that they have and the education."

Simmons, meanwhile, doesn't have his future quite as planned out. He's still thinking about maybe heading to America this upcoming year for his sophomore season, even though that appears unlikely at the moment.

"There's more athletic people over here," Simmons said. "So there's more competition."

He also has a brother, Liam Simmons, who conveniently coaches a boys basketball program at a smaller high school in Arizona. Then there's his sister, who lives in Chicago, surrounded by several top high school basketball programs as well.

And, of course, there's Huntington Prep and Kingdom Prep, who are both recruiting him to play for their programs. But for now, the plan appears to be to stay in Australia for one more year, then seriously contemplate the move to the States for the final years of high school and the four years of college.

"I guess staying in Australia and coming over for college would be better in some ways," Ben said. "But coming over here, I would get more exposure, so that would be a lot better."

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