THE AFL has had a win after exciting basketballer Luke Jackson decided to pursue a football career.

Jackson has been a star in both sports as a junior and recently played for Australia at the under-17 basketball world cup.

But the 199cm 16-year-old has also shown plenty of talent with the Sherrin, having played for Western Australia at this year's NAB AFL Under-18 Championships before heading overseas for the basketball tournament.

He shapes as one of the leading tall prospects in next year's NAB AFL Draft and the League said it was rapt to have Jackson choose football.

AFL talent ambassador Kevin Sheehan told AFL.com.au that Jackson would have close contact with NAB AFL Academy head coach and former Brisbane champion Luke Power as his football takes shape.

"He'll work over closely with Luke Power, and Luke will go over and see him next week. We're tidying up a program for him that's at the very elite level," Sheehan said.

"He's an outstanding prospect. He played the first two games of the national carnival before going to play basketball in Argentina and starred at both.

"We're conscious of the need to get the first-choice athletes into our game. If you're going to have a spectacular game, you need the spectacular players and he's all of that."

The AFL will again hold an under-17s game featuring the best prospects for next year's draft on Grand Final morning at the MCG, and Sheehan said Jackson would be selected for that contest.

"We'll fine-tune that program for his next 18 months in the next few weeks, but he will play in that game on the MCG.

"That's a pretty good hook for any young boy. We'll have 46 players who will get that opportunity and we look forward to announcing that in August.

"He's one of the first one in."