Zunic had helped the Eagles secure a ticket to the prestigious NCAA tournament in March - including managing six points and eight rebounds in the Big South Conference men's title game - and 2020 promised to be a massive year for the Shell Cove talent.

Instead, this year's competition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the 21-year-old is back home in the Illawarra. With doubts over whether other US college tournaments will go ahead, Zunic said he had to weigh up his next steps.

"I think it's going to come down to flights, whether I can get over there. I've still a month or so to make a decision whether I go back or not," the guard said.

"I'm just trying to see all of my options right now. My number one is to get back and play college ball soon and finish off my last year and get my degree. If not, I'm going to have to look at what I can do. Pro basketball is what I want to do.

"Through the three years there, I can just see how much my game has grown and how mature I've become. Just being around basketball 24/7, it's pretty much like you're a pro with school on the side. It's got me so prepared playing against elite level schools like Duke, these guys are nearly close to pro. It's really helped me to play against some good talent.

"Even a place like Winthrop is a mid-major, but we still get a really good crowd at our games. The atmosphere at Duke was ridiculous, it was so loud in there."

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If he can't get back to the US, Zunic will pondering a year of playing competitive basketball in Australia.

He admits that he has already been in tentative talks with a couple of NBL coaches.

"If I can play over here, that would be unbelievable," Zunic said.

"I've had some talks with some coaches that I've already known. I haven't got right into the details of it, but we're keeping contact and I have a plan B. If I stay here, I'm sure I will have more talks and stuff. But at this stage, I don't have full details.

"I've just had some talks with coaches that I've already known. I haven't got right into the details of that, but keeping contact and having a plan B. If I stay here, I'm sure I will get more talks and stuff. But at this stage, I don't have full details.

"The NBL has improved, 100 per cent. Even from the time I [first] went to college to now, it's taken a few step ups and I think it's one of the best leagues in the world. It's a very elite league.

"I'd love to have the opportunity to play in that kind of atmosphere and league."

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