The first time you’ve heard of LaMelo Ball was back in 2017’s NCAA March Madness Tournament when LaMelo’s brother, Lonzo, was one of the more popular players in college basketball back when he was in UCLA and LaMelo was about to be a Junior in high school and his brother, LiAngelo, was going to be a Senior. All three brothers became super popular over that summer because their legendary father, LaVar, talked about the potential that Lonzo has to become the future of the NBA and claimed that he would be better than Stephen Curry and other NBA stars. The Ball family has a TV show on Facebook Watch, Ball In The Family. The year it premiered was the year Lonzo was being drafted into the NBA. It was also the school year that LaMelo no longer went to Chino Hills High School because it was said at the time he would be homeschooled and because his father disapproved of the new coach and the school administration.
When reached for comments about how he felt about LaMelo leaving Chino Hills High School, YouTube channel ‘Ball Facts’ (covers everything about The Ball Brothers) said:
“I thought it was questionable; not sure it was a good idea, until I heard LaVar’s explanation.”
In December of that year LaMelo and LiAngelo signed a contract with Prienai of Lithuanian Basketball League (BC Prienai) and played a few games. However, their teammates and some news outlets did not like them and claimed they were not mature enough. Eventually, LiAngelo and LaMelo left Lithuania because his father didn’t like the coach and his decision to not let LaMelo play enough.
Ball Facts on how he thought LaMelo and LiAngelo played during that time:
“Considering all the jealousy and uncooperative attitude from their teammates I think they did very well. They had, probably, their worst team atmosphere they’ll ever have early in their career there and they handled it with class. LiAngelo had a very good 3pt percentage, which provides to a lot of nay-sayers that he can’t really shoot it well, when in fact he does, and LaMelo at 16 years old wasn’t bullied by the adults. Though they weren’t given enough minutes to show what they could really do, going overseas added a great chapter in their story that I’m sure they learned a lot from.”
When LaMelo came home in 2018, LaVar Ball made a league, Junior Basketball Association. The league was intended to be an alternative to NCAA for players in high school and junior college. LaMelo signed a contract with the Los Angeles Ballers. Lamelo played a lot better but didn’t get a lot of scout recognition. He was named to the Junior Basketball Association All Star Game and led his team to the semi-finals, and he led his team to the JBA championship. The JBA then made a USA team of all the best players in the league during that time with LaMelo being one of them. JBA USA would then go on to play several international games. LaMelo would be ejected during a game against Dzūjika for getting into a fight with another player.
Photo Credit: Zack Samberg
Ball Facts on LaMelo going back to high school after the Lithuanian and the JBA runs:
“I thought it was humble of LaMelo to return to high school and the genius of Lavar to allow him. While he was in high school LaMelo reminded the world why we fell in love with his game.”
On November 5th, 2018, LaMelo went back to high school after skipping his junior year and part of his senior year. He would join SPIRE Institute, a prep school in Geneva, Ohio for athletes and sports training. LaMelo Ball played for Jermaine Jackson, who was a Head Coach at the time. Lamelo had a great year helping his team reach the finals and being named the season MVP.
After that year, LaMelo wasn’t able to go to college because the NCAA felt LaMelo would be violating their player likeness policy at the time because he was receiving money from overseas teams and also when he was in Chino Hill High School LaMelo had his own signature shoe already.
So LaMelo went to Australia for one season and he played amazing. He averaged 17 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 6.8 assists. Because of his play, he is now one of the projected top three picks in the NBA draft.
Ball Facts on how LaMelo’s run in Australia went:
“I think he was good, he was the youngest to get a triple double record, but the team was not good; he did win Rookie of the Year though.”
During the summer, LaMelo signed a contract with Puma, leaving his family’s company, Big Baller Brand. Ball Facts said, “He should have stayed with the Big Baller Brand, he could have made them bigger.”
As for who he thinks will pick LaMelo and how his future will turn out, he said, “I think Charlotte, all the signs go to Charlotte. He will be Rookie of the Year, his second year he should be an All Star.”
I think LaMelo will become a good player as long as he keeps improving and becomes a better player and doesn’t let popularity get to his head.
