The Warrnambool College student will trade home club Dennington for Victorian Premier Cricket outfit Prahran as he chases a career at the highest level.

The move comes on the back of a 559-run season, which ranked him fifth among Warrnambool and District Cricket Association top-grade batsmen.

King also represented Victoria at under 17 national championships in Hobart. 

He played an anchor role at the top of the order as the Vics placed third.

Prahran coach Peter Di Venuto said the True Blues were rapt to secure King, a member of the WDCA team of the year in 2014-15.

Di Venuto said he received “good feedback” about the left-hander from three state teammates who play at the club. “We have three under 17 state representatives at the club and those boys played with Nick in the tournament in Hobart,” he said.

“They couldn’t speak more highly of him as a person first and foremost. That’s the first thing we look at.

“Then his cricket ability speaks for itself. His work ethic is the other thing the boys commented on. We’re excited to have that calibre of player at the club.” Di Venuto said King was “coming into a terrific coaching environment”.

Former Australian spinner Bryce McGain and Bermuda batsman David Hemp, a county star with Glamorgan and Warwickshire, are part of the set-up.

Di Venuto said the True Blues wanted King to settle in at the club before bestowing expectations on him.

“The most important thing to start with is he’s got to settle and feel good. Once you feel comfortable, other things start to take care of themselves,” he said.

“He’s obviously opened a lot but from our perspective there’s no point throwing him to the wolves.

“If an opportunity presents itself and it’s down the order, he’ll take that opportunity and put into place what he knows.”

Prahran made VPC first XI semi-finals last season but lost to eventual grand finalist Monash Tigers.