LaMelo LaFrance Ball (born August 22, 2001) is an American professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). [86], Ball is the youngest son of LaVar and Tina Ball, who are both former college basketball players. [69] On November 5, he left the JBA tour to return to high school in the United States for his senior season. ... Tanti prospetti interessanti nel lotto, con Anthony Edwards, James Wiseman e LaMelo Ball a giocarsi la prima scelta assoluta. He was selected by the Hornets with the third overall pick of the 2020 NBA draft. [16][17] He was criticized by analysts for cherry picking, as he often waited near half court to get an open shot on his next possession instead of defending. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. [5] In his first game, Ball scored 27 points as a starter. Altezza Peso Numero Data di nascita Esp. … He also played flag football with his brothers at age five but continued to focus on basketball. [28], On June 17, 2019, Ball signed a two-year contract, including NBA out clauses, with the Illawarra Hawks of the Australian-based National Basketball League (NBL). Share this article 219 shares share tweet text email link Cody Taylor. LaMelo Ball has put on 'about 10-15 pounds' of muscle recently. LaMelo Ball doesn't think his father, LaVar Ball, will get to face Michael Jordan in a one-on-one matchup, but adds, "we know how it would turn out." He led Los Angeles to a JBA championship over the Seattle Ballers. Subscribe to our Free Newsletter, This Month in Sports ReferenceFind out when we add a feature or make a change. LaMelo, 16, and LiAngelo Ball, 19, agreed to deals with Vytautas that will allow the two prospects to start their careers in a competitive pro league with a history of producing NBA players. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. He is a shooting guard who will play in Australia in 2019-2020 with the goal to enter in the next NBA draft. [61], On May 4, 2018, Ball signed with the Los Angeles Ballers of the Junior Basketball Association (JBA), a new league created by his father as an alternative to college basketball, and was touted by the league as its "marquee player. [1] At age four, he started playing the sport with his older brothers, Lonzo and LiAngelo, facing much older opponents. [2] In 2013, while in seventh grade, Ball began playing with his brothers on Big Ballers VXT, a 17-and-under Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team launched and coached by his parents. [80] On January 16, 2020, while still sidelined, Ball decided to sit out for the remainder of the season. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. [98][99] He became the youngest athlete to ever have a signature shoe. All rights reserved. [3] The team, which was not sponsored by a major shoe company, did not compete in top AAU circuits and instead took part in local competitions. SPIRE Institute Geneva OH. Matt King/Getty Images And honestly, 12.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.8 steals in about 31 minutes per game is … Do you have a blog? LaMelo Ball è figlio di LaVar e Tina Ball, entrambi ex giocatori di basket a livello universitario. Official Facebook Page of LaMelo Ball [20], On October 2, 2017, before his junior season, Ball left Chino Hills to be homeschooled because his father disapproved of newly-appointed head coach Dennis Latimore and school administration. "[95] The WWE later apologized for his "inappropriate language. Claimed! [34] Career; Var 16-17; Var 15-16; Career Stats. [71][72] In August 2019, after playing for No Shnacks at the Drew League, Ball was named Leader of the New School, an award honoring the league's top rookie. Rank OH Rank 92 2. [24][25][26][27], On November 5, 2018, after skipping his junior year and a part of his senior year to play professionally, Ball joined SPIRE Institute and Academy, a prep school in Geneva, Ohio, where he played under head coach Jermaine Jackson. [70] In late September, he had success at the NBL Blitz, a pre-season tournament. Join our linker program. Every veteran wanted a piece of him. High quality Lamelo Ball gifts and merchandise. La offseason della Southeast Division potrebbe essere descritta in davvero ben poche parole: Miami chiama, Atlanta risponde.Ma come sempre accade nello sport, quattro parole non riusciranno mai a riassumere né prevedere ciò che poi il campo dirà. ", "LaMelo Ball 'leaning toward' return to prep school next fall over G League", "LaMelo Ball likely headed to China or Australia", "LaMelo Ball hopes to play in college, but is open to NBA G League", "OFICIALU: "Vytauto" gretose – broliai Ball'ai", "LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball sign professional basketball contracts with Lithuanian club", "LaVar Ball and Family Arrive In Lithuania, Mobbed By Media At Airport", "LiAngelo, LaMelo Ball arrive in Lithuania", "LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball make Lithuanian basketball debut: 6 strangest takeaways", "LiAngelo Ball, LaMelo Ball held scoreless in loss", "LiAngelo Ball Hits 6 3-Pointers, LaMelo Returns from Injury in BC Vytautas' Loss", "LaMelo Ball will miss game on Tuesday due to his 'minor' leg injury", "LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball leave BC Vytautas due to injuries", "LaVar Ball is pulling sons LiAngelo and LaMelo out of Lithuania before season ends", "LaMelo Ball signs with Los Angeles Ballers as JBA's 'MARQUEE Player, "LaMelo Ball Will Join The JBA League This Summer", "LaMelo Ball Scores 40 in LA Baller's Junior Basketball Association Win", "LiAngelo, LaMelo Ball lead Los Angeles Ballers to first-ever JBA championship", "JBA announces international season opener, 13-man roster", "LaMelo Ball got ejected for slapping a Lithuanian player during a JBA game", "LaMelo Ball commits to play in Australian NBL", "NBL to Fast Track Next Stars of the NBA", "NBA Scouts Heap Praise On LaMelo Ball After NBL Blitz", "LaMelo on show, Bullets down Hawks in NBL", "LaMelo Ball has been on a tear over the past month in the NBL", "Ball Makes History as Hawks Prevail in OT", "DJ a Production Machine Ahead of NBL Game 250", "LaMelo Ball picked up another historic triple-double in the NBL", "LaMelo Ball Ends NBL Season in Australia Ahead of 2020 NBA Draft", "LaMelo Ball Leaves NBL's Illawarra Hawks to Prepare for 2020 NBA Draft", "Bryce Cotton wins MVP, LaMelo Ball takes Rookie of the Year - 2019-20 NBL Awards Recap", "2020 NBA Mock Draft: LaMelo Ball is the No. [100], "The Architect: Father of the Ball brothers speaks about growth of Chino Hills", "The Ball family -- coming to a basketball court (and TV) near you", "Lonzo, LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball are About to Take Over the Basketball World", "It's Ball in the family at Chino Hills basketball", "Boys' basketball: LaMelo Ball, 13, makes quite a debut for Chino Hill", "Chino Hills defeats Sierra Canyon, 105-83, for first section title", "Top-ranked Chino Hills finishes perfect season with a flurry", "Lonzo is just the beginning of the Ball-UCLA pipeline", "2015-16 MaxPreps Boys Basketball Freshman All-American Team", "LaMelo Ball drains half-court shot two seconds after controlling opening tip", "Lonzo Ball's little brother calling his halfcourt shot was as disrespectful as it gets", "Steph Curry praises high schooler's half-court 'Babe Ruth' 3-pointer", "Lonzo Ball's little brother scores 92 points in a high school game", "Oak Hill Academy stops Chino Hills win streak at 60 games", "LaMelo Ball highlights: UCLA commit drops 92 points in high school game", "Chino Hills' LaMelo Ball's 92-point game creates a national buzz and a bit of a stir", "Charles Barkley on LaMelo Ball's defense in 92-point game: 'I have a serious problem with that, "2016-17 MaxPreps Boys Basketball Sophomore All-American Team", "Showdown between LaMelo Ball and Zion Williamson in AAU game in Las Vegas draws massive crowd", "LaVar Ball to pull son LaMelo from Chino Hills and train him personally", "LaVar Ball: LiAngelo, LaMelo sign with agent, will play overseas", "LiAngelo, LaMelo Ball won't play college basketball after signing with agent", "LiAngelo & LaMelo Ball's agents to clubs: Money not a concern. Nov 30, 2020 - LaMelo Ball signed a multi-year contract with the Charlotte Hornets. Chino Hills High School debuts [52][53] Prienai withdrew from the Baltic Basketball League upon their arrival and took part in various exhibition games sponsored by Big Baller Brand. The youngest of the Ball Brothers, this kid needs no introduction. the official stats partner of the NBA. Tags: NBA, Charlotte Hornets, LaMelo Ball. 1 overall pick, goes higher than brother Lonzo Ball did", "Hornets Select LaMelo Ball, Vernon Carey Jr. and Grant Riller in 2020 NBA Draft", "Lonzo and LaMelo Ball Make NBA History as First Brothers Drafted in Top 3", "On LaMelo Ball's birthday, is he the most famous 16-year-old basketball star ever? "[39] He emerged as a top recruit in the 2019 class during his sophomore season in high school. [7] Later in the month, Ball helped his team capture the CIF Open Division state championship, recording 14 points in the title game against De La Salle High School. LaVar, who stands 6-foot-6 (1.98 m), competed with Washington State and then Cal State Los Angeles. [9][10], On December 26, 2016, Ball made national headlines for making a half-court shot two seconds into a game. Teams. In these cases, the average was taken. [31] His team was removed from the Hoophall Classic tournament because event organizers did not meet a $10,000 request from a Ball family associate in order for Ball to play. [45] Ball's signing of an agent and his professional experience further imperiled his NCAA eligibility. LaMelo has played on 2 basketball teams covered by MaxPreps. Copyright © 2000-2020 Sports Reference LLC. Find out more. His father, LaVar, also grew into a media personality in 2017. Are you a Stathead, too? [54] On January 13, 2018, Ball made his professional debut, going scoreless in five minutes against Lietkabelis. [78][79], On December 8, before he played another game, it was announced that he would miss about four weeks of action after bruising his foot in practice. Ball helped his team reach the final and was named season MVP. The growth in his handle has been impressive as he can get anywhere on the floor with some speed or a change of speed and direction. [74], On October 6, in his first regular season game, Ball tallied 12 points, 10 rebounds and five assists on 6-of-17 shooting in a loss to the Brisbane Bullets. [21] On December 7, he signed with agent Harrison Gaines to play professionally overseas alongside his brother LiAngelo. [66] In the playoff semifinals versus the New York Ballers, he scored a season-high 55 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists. LaVar, così come Tina, ha infatti giocato per la Washington State University e per la California State University, Los Angeles. Ball's oldest brother, Lonzo, is a point guard in the NBA and was the second-overall pick in the 2017 draft, while his other brother, LiAngelo has played professionally. Carriera High School. LaMelo admits that he hates playing against Lonzo and LiAngelo; however, LaVar thinks it’s what made his youngest son the most fearless Ball brother. Chino Hills finished the season with a 35–0 record and claimed the mythical national championship. Data Provided By 533K likes. [70] He joined the Hawks through the NBL Next Stars program, which aims to develop NBA draft prospects. Prima della NBA Paese; LaMelo Ball: G: 2.03: 81.6 kg: 2001-08-21: 0: Illawarra/United States: Stati Uniti: Bismack Biyombo LaMelo Ball's Basketball Stats. [8] Ball averaged 16.4 points and 3.8 assists per game and shared MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year honors with his teammate, Onyeka Okongwu. [92][93][94] On June 26, 2017, Ball appeared on a segment of WWE Raw with members of his family, during which he told his father, "Beat that nigga ass! [51] The brothers' move to Lithuania was heavily reported by American sports media. LaMelo Ball - Career stats, game logs, leaderboard appearances, awards, and achievements for international club and tournament play Games Played 67 Points Per Game 21.5 Assists Per Game … [47][48][49], On December 11, 2017, Ball signed with Prienai of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL) with his brother, LiAngelo. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Nov 18, 2020 - The Charlotte Hornets selected LaMelo Ball in Round 1 with Pick 3 in the 2020 NBA Draft. Before his junior season, a coaching dispute prompted him to leave Chino Hills and sign with Lithuanian professional team Prienai. Lamelo Ball is a professional basketball player born on August 22, 2001, in Chino Hills (California). "[96] Ball is the subject of a rap single titled Melo Ball 1 and released by his brother, Lonzo, on September 8, 2017. Ball began high school at Chino Hills High School in Chino Hills, California, where he won a state championship and achieved national success as a freshman with his older brothers Lonzo and LiAngelo, who are both current NBA guards. Through 12 NBL games, Ball averaged 17 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game, shooting 37.7 percent from the field. [76] Ball recorded a season-high 32 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists on November 25, in an overtime victory over the Cairns Taipans, to become the youngest NBL player to record a triple-double. [77] In his next game, Ball posted another triple-double with 25 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists but was held to 10-of-28 shooting in a loss to the New Zealand Breakers. [36], Ball verbally committed to play college basketball for UCLA at age 13, before starting high school,[37][38] becoming the third of his brothers to commit to the school. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Tuesday, October 20, 4:30AM. But is he eligible? 6'5" 165 lbs Senior. [75] He assumed a more important role following a season-ending injury to star point guard Aaron Brooks on October 27. [43][46] In the following months, however, Ball explored alternative options, including prep school, the NBA G League and professional leagues in Australia and China. Plays Basketball. The younger brother of the … 6m Followers, 95 Following, 293 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from LaMelo Ball (@melo) LaMelo LaFrance Ball (born August 22, 2001) is an American professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). [68] On October 31, in an exhibition game versus Dzūkija on the tour, he was ejected after slapping an opposing player in the face during a scuffle. LaMelo is a smart team defender with great instincts for jumping passing lanes, but he’s far behind his older brother as an on-ball defender. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? LaMelo Ball was born on 22 August 2001 at Chino Hills, California. [87] In 2017, LaVar became a popular but polarizing sports media personality, primarily for making outlandish remarks about the careers of himself and his sons. Jersey #1 Position PG, C Overall Conf 17-2 4-0 Nat. [43], The 2017 release of Ball's Melo Ball 1 signature shoe by Big Baller Brand, his family's sports apparel company, threatened his eligibility under the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). [67] After the season, Ball was named to the league's select team, called JBA USA, which would face several European teams on an international tour. [90] By 2017, many analysts were calling him a celebrity. [6] On March 5, 2016, he scored 26 points in a win over Sierra Canyon School for the CIF Southern Section Open Division title. Graduated in 2019. [19] On July 27, he featured in an AAU game against five-star recruit Zion Williamson that was featured in national sports media. [41][42] When Ball returned to high school after a professional stint in 2018, he remained a five-star recruit. 27° POSTO - KYLE LOWRY, Toronto Raptors. ", "Why basketball powerhouses are canceling their games against LaMelo Ball's school", "How Money Is Swirling Around High School Hooper LaMelo Ball And The Big Baller Brand", "LaMelo Ball goes for 20 points, 13 assists in Spire debut, Rocket Watts drops 38", "Watch LaMelo Ball Drop 41 Points in Blowout over Hillcrest at The Grind Session", "LaMelo Ball Named Grind Session MVP, Drops 18 in Win vs. Our Saviour Lutheran", "LaMelo Ball Ineligible for McDonald's All-American Game, Officials Say", "UCLA accepts verbal commitment from 13-year-old star LaMelo Ball", "LaMelo Ball completes trifecta for Bruins", "13-year-old LaMelo Ball follows brothers, commits to UCLA", "Everything you need to know about updated ESPN 25", "LaMelo Ball Scored 92 Points — but He's Not a Consensus Top 100 Recruit", "2019 LaMelo Ball leads 10 rising halfway through Holiday Tourneys", "ESPN's latest recruiting rankings explain why LaMelo Ball is a 5-star prospect", "High school athlete LaMelo Ball gets signature shoe, sparking eligibility questions", "LaVar Ball brushes off LaMelo eligibility concerns due to MB1 shoe, says NCAA 'not my boss, "LaMelo Ball wants to play for Duke, Kentucky, or UNC. [82] At the end of the season, he was named NBL Rookie of the Year over Kouat Noi by five votes (49–44). [28][29] SPIRE competed outside the jurisdiction of the Ohio High School Athletic Association, allowing Ball to play without concerns over his amateur status. In one season at UCLA, Lonzo Ball became one this decade’s biggest college basketball stars. Lamelo Ball of the Hawks drives to the basket. [90][91] Ball has a role in the Facebook Watch reality show Ball in the Family, which was launched in August 2017 and documents the lives of his family members. Despite LaMelo saying in an episode of Ball in the Family that USC and Kansas were recruiting him, a Kansas official refuted the claim to the Lawrence Journal-World. [40] Most recruiting services considered him a five-star recruit and one of the top point guards in his class. [59][60] He finished the LKL season averaging 6.5 points and 2.4 assists, shooting 26.8 percent from the field, in 12.8 minutes per game. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Tina, who stands 6-feet (1.83 m), also played with the latter school. Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 15 December 2020, at 05:54. The Ball family saw how Lonzo was treated when he entered the NBA. Varsity Basketball (2018-19) Varsity Basketball (2016-17) Varsity Basketball (2015-16) School. We present them here for purely educational purposes. He made 37-of-61 shots from the floor and 7-of-22 from 3-point range. LaMelo Ball, selected with the No. LaMelo Ball. Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history. 2/28 ©Getty. [50] Ball reportedly became the youngest American to ever sign a professional basketball contract. Mancano pochi giorni alla prima palla a due della stagione NBA 2020-2021. A former UCLA commit, he was a five-star recruit but chose to forgo college basketball amid eligibility concerns and play in Australia for the Illawarra Hawks of the National Basketball League (NBL) in 2019, winning NBL Rookie of the Year. Inspired designs on t-shirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. [37] Ball, who was also recruited by Virginia and Washington State at the time, said that UCLA was his "dream school. [23] In the following days, Gaines offered the brothers to professional teams in various European countries and in Japan. Or write about sports? [14][15] In his next game, on February 7, Ball scored 92 points in a win over Los Osos High School, the second-most single-game points in California high school history. [30] Despite questions surrounding his eligibility, which discouraged major NCAA Division I programs from recruiting him, he expressed interest in playing college basketball upon his return to high school in November 2018. Roster della squadra di Charlotte Hornets su MSN Sport. ", "How LaMelo Ball became hated without saying a word", "LaVar Ball predictably dominates new trailer for the Ball family's reality show", "The Ball family's new reality show to air Aug. 31", "LaVar Ball, family to star in reality show on Facebook", "LaVar Ball's Son LaMelo Uses Racial Slur in WWE Raw Segment with The Miz", "WWE issues statement after LaMelo Ball used 'inappropriate language' on live TV", "Lonzo Ball Announces He Will Release 1st Rap Single 'Melo Ball 1' on Friday", "Big Baller Brand Unveils MB1 Signature Sneakers for LaMelo Ball", "LaMelo Ball Is Now The Youngest Athlete Ever With A Signature Shoe", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=LaMelo_Ball&oldid=994341698, American expatriate basketball people in Australia, American expatriate basketball people in Lithuania, Sportspeople from San Bernardino County, California, Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected biographies of living people, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Ball's talent and instincts for the game is evident. His father LaVar Ball was a professional basketball and soccer player. Ball and his brothers have attracted national attention since playing together in high school. His youngest brother, LaMelo, is preparing for the NBA draft half a world away from that stage. Get the latest LaMelo Ball news, photos, rankings, lists and more on Bleacher Report He became the fourth player in league history, and the first since the NBL switched to 40-minute games in 2009, to record consecutive triple doubles. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. da Microsoft News. [81] He parted ways with the Hawks on January 28 to return to the United States and prepare for the 2020 NBA draft. The accumulated varsity totals are in the last row of each table. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. He played basketball for Washington State University through his youth in 1987-88 and later for California State University, LA. [32] On November 10, 2018, Ball debuted for SPIRE, recording 20 points, 13 assists and five rebounds in a 96–84 win over The Hill School. [83], In the days leading up to the 2020 NBA draft, Ball was considered a possible top overall pick. LaMelo Ball OFFICIAL sophomore season Ballislife mixtape! [55] On February 4, he scored a season-high 19 points, with four three-pointers and six assists, in a loss to Žalgiris. Do you have a sports website? Draft NBA 2020, tutte le scelte squadra per squadra. [56] In an exhibition game toward the end of the month, he suffered a leg injury that sidelined him for a month. His height is six foot five (1m98 / 6'5"). LaMelo Ball. [35] He was ruled ineligible for the 2019 McDonald's All-American Game due to his professional experience. [64][65] Over eight regular season games, Ball averaged a triple-double with 39.6 points, 14.6 rebounds and 11.5 assists per game, while being named to the All-Star Game. Assuming Ball receives the usual 120% above rookie scale, as virtually all first-rounders receive, he’ll make $7,839,960 in his first year. So gifted at passing from his penetration ... for full access to RecruitingNation become an ESPN+ Subscriber 18-19 Varsity Basketball. ... lo storico compagno di squadra del n°23 dei Bulls... 07 dic - … [18] Ball finished the season averaging 26.7 points and almost 10 assists per game, earning MaxPreps Sophomore All-American first team recognition. LaMelo Ball scored 92 points - including 41 in the fourth quarter - in a 147-123 win over Los Osos. February 07, 2017: Game Stats. [4], In his freshman season, Ball started playing basketball for Chino Hills High School in Chino Hills, California. Nome Pos. [89], Since his freshman season in high school, Ball has drawn the attention of national sports outlets and established a large social media following. [22] The decision indicated that he would not play college basketball. "[62][63] In his debut on June 21, he posted a triple-double of 40 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists and three steals, shooting 15-of-40 from the field, in a 134–124 win over the New York Ballers. [73] For the NBL season, he moved to Australia with his former SPIRE Institute coach Jermaine Jackson, who became his manager and helped him acclimate. [2] Later on, LaVar played professional football as a tight end for the London Monarchs of the World League of American Football after being loaned from the New York Jets. “‘I got Gelo and Zo in front of me. Ball has a signature shoe by his father's company, Big Baller Brand, and a role on his family's Facebook Watch reality show Ball in the Family. [84] In the NBA draft, which was held on November 18, 2020, Ball was selected with the third overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets. Ball was trained in basketball by his father, LaVar, as soon as he could walk. 3/28 ©Getty. Subjecting LaMelo, an inferior player, to the same would be risky. [44][45] Ball's father ignored the concerns and considered having his son skip college for that reason. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. 27° POSTO - LAMELO BALL, Charlotte Hornets. 3 pick of the draft, has signed his rookie contract with the Hornets, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN tweets. [85] With his third overall selection by the Hornets in the NBA draft, he and his brother, Lonzo, became the first set of brothers to both be drafted in the top 3 of the NBA draft. After making his debut in the National Basketball League in Australia, LaMelo Ball prepared extensively over the summer for his upcoming year of competitive basketball. [30] A number of prominent high school teams canceled their match-ups with SPIRE because Ball's professional experience would threaten their eligibility under their state federations. They would like to play for same club", "The Ball brothers, LaMelo and LiAngelo, offered to the Spanish League", "Lithuanian club coach turned LiAngelo Ball rumors into the ultimate burn", "LiAngelo, LaMelo Ball Offered To Overseas Teams", "LaMelo Ball is Returning To High School, Plans To Enroll at SPIRE Institute in Ohio", "LaMelo Ball to enroll at Spire Institute, again play high school basketball", "Does LaMelo Ball Have a Chance at Becoming Eligible to Play College Basketball? msn sport. September 9, 2019 2:16 pm. [33] On March 7, 2019, he scored 41 points, including 29 in the first half, in a 102–67 victory over Hillcrest Prep North at the Grind Session World Championship. [11][12][13] On February 4, 2017, he suffered his first high school loss despite scoring a game-high 36 points, with Oak Hill Academy ending Chino Hills' 60-game win streak. LaMelo Ball is settling in nicely in Charlotte, both on and off the court. LaMelo Ball spent the 2018-19 basketball season playing for SPIRE Academy in Ohio following a brief stint overseas. An excellent ball-handler who has a natural feel for setting up defenders with misdirection moves and change of pace dribble combos to get into the lane and create for himself and others … Follow. [88] His cousin, Andre, plays college basketball for Pepperdine. He was teammates with his two older brothers, Lonzo and LiAngelo, and his cousin, Andre Ball. [57][58] On April 25, Ball left Prienai with his family, with his father criticizing the team's head coach Virginijus Šeškus, in part because Ball did not receive enough playing time. In 2018, he played in the Junior Basketball Association (JBA), a league created by his father, before returning to high school as a senior with SPIRE Academy in Geneva, Ohio. He now stands at 6'6 with guard skills. He recorded 19 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists in a preseason win over the Perth Wildcats. [97], On August 31, 2017, Big Baller Brand, a sports apparel company launched by Ball's family in 2016, released a signature shoe for him called the Melo Ball 1.