MIAMI (AFP) - Australian forward Alex Condon, who helped spark the University of Florida to a US national college crown last month, said Tuesday he is opting out of the National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft.

The 20-year-old from Perth will instead return to the Gators for his junior season in hopes of repeating as NCAA men’s basketball champions as Florida did in 2006 and 2007.

Condon confirmed his decision a day before the deadline for withdrawing from the NBA Draft, posting the message “I’m back” with himself in a Florida jersey on social media.

Condon scored 12 points, grabbed seven rebounds, made four steals and dove on a loose ball at the end of a 65-63 championship game victory over Houston on 7 April at San Antonio, Texas.

The Aussie averaged 10.6 points and a team-high 7.5 rebounds a game for the Gators last season, when Florida went 36-4, winning their final 12 games.

He was also invited to the NBA Combine in Chicago, a workout for top prospects.

Condon had been a youth prospect in Australian Rules Football before devoting himself to basketball at age 16.