By Fredo Cervantes
LaMelo Ball just made one of the biggest decisions of his life a couple of weeks ago which is signing a 2 yr contract (NBA out clauses) with the Illawarra Hawks of the National Basketball League (NBL) in Australia.
The NBL has 9 total teams in the league which will begin play in October. Ball won’t be the only top prospect in the NBL; RJ Hampton, who is ESPN #5 prospect in this years class, has also signed a similar contract as Ball with the New Zealand Breakers of the NBL.
LaMelo Ball began his high school career at Chino Hills High School in Chino Hills, CA, which is about 40 miles east of Los Angeles. He played along side of his older brothers, (Senior) Lonzo Ball, who later attended UCLA in 2016 and drafted 2nd overall in the 2017 NBA Draft by his local team the Los Angeles Lakers and was just recently traded away to the New Orleans Pelicans. As well as (Junior) LiAngelo Ball who also attended UCLA and currently going on the right path to make it to the NBA after some ups and downs.
In his sophomore year, Ball was scoring 30 ppg and dominating the league. He later went on to break some records by scoring 92 points in a single game against Los Osos High School. Ball then began his Junior year in high school but things weren’t going well for the newly head coach at Chino Hills which led to his father, Lavar Ball, pulling him out of high school so he can prepare for his upcoming basketball career. In 2017 LaMelo and LiAngelo decided to go over to Lithuania and begin their professional careers with the Vytautas Prienu for one year.
While Ball was playing with the JBA League, a league started by his father, Lavar Ball, LaMelo decided he wanted to go back to play high school basketball for his senior year, which led him to SPIRE Institute in Geneva, OH. Jermaine Jackson, former NBA Player, is the head coach at SPIRE and welcomed LaMelo Ball and the Ball Family with open arms. In his debut at SPIRE he scored 20 pts and 10 assists in a win over The Hill School. After the NCAA ruled out Ball from attending college, he began to explore his options for his post high school career but before he made a decision, LaMelo Ball joined the No Shnacks, who play at The Drew League in Los Angeles. A league with Southern California’s toughest competition, including college athletes and NBA Players. The Drew league begins every summer like it has been since 1973.
LaMelo Ball has been dominating The Drew League as I have been there covering every game this summer. Ball is getting ready to enter the NBA in 2020 as he continues his playing career in Australia later this year.
Will LaMelo Ball be a top pick in the 2020 NBA Draft? Yes, Considering he will dominate in the NBL, he certainly has the potential to be the #1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft next year. Ball has a unique playstyle that fits with today’s NBA. The way he can handle the ball at his size at 6’7, the way he can really pass the ball and the ability to shoot the ball of the dribble, it’s spectacular. There’s moments when you see Ball on the court and you see a dynamic basketball player who can do it all as a point guard, just like former NBA MVP Stephen Curry.
During my interview with LaMelo Ball after his game on Sunday, he said there’s not a focus on a specific team he would like to play for. He just wants to make it to the NBA and will be happy for whichever team drafts him. As we fast forward to next year, LaMelo Ball will be the #1 overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft.
