Newcastle’s Tosan Evbuomwan could become the first British basketball player since 2010 to be drafted into the NBA.

Earlier this month the former Eagles Academy star completed a fairytale run to the Sweet 16 of this season’s NCAA tournament with surprise package Princeton.

And with NBA scouts, their affiliate G League colleagues and clubs from across Europe tracking one of the hottest properties in college hoops, Evbuomwan has officially declared for the 2023 NBA draft.

“I’ve accomplished everything that I could’ve hoped to at Princeton and I’m ready for the next step in my basketball career,” he told ESPN.

“I’m excited to show NBA teams who I am and what I’m capable of as the pre-draft process unfolds.”

The NBA draft is the annual process whereby US franchises select the best-emerging college talent and rising stars from overseas to bolster their star-studded rosters.

In a system weighted in the favour of the weakest performing teams, those franchises that finish outside of the playoffs enter a lottery where they get the chance to recruit the best players first.

But two draft rounds — and the opportunity to trade new and future picks — means that the majority of NBA teams will make major moves on June 22.

Evbuomwan’s decision to declare for the 2023 draft is no guarantee of an NBA contract.

And the former Sport Newcastle Rising Star would become the first Ivy League player to be drafted since 1984 if he does get selected.

But even declaring for this year’s process demonstrates just how far 22-year-old Evbumowan has come in the nine years since he first picked up a basketball on Tyneside.

The former Royal Grammar School pupil and ex-member of Newcastle United’s Academy could become the first player with a British passport drafted since Ryan Richards 13 years ago.

And two-time Ivy League MVP Evbuomwan, who was the breakout star of March Madness, is expected to remain in the US for the foreseeable future after signing with the GSL Sports Group.

GSL Sports represents NBA players including Landry Shamet (Phoenix Suns), Louis King (Philadelphia 76ers) and John Konchar (Memphis Grizzlies).