VIDEO: LaMelo Ball Announces Deal With Pro Australian Team in Hopes of Becoming No. 1 Pick in 2020
By Thomas Carannante
Yup, he's a Ball alright. When you're setting beyond lofty expectations before even accomplishing anything, that's the calling card. LaMelo Ball continued the family trend on Monday, announcing on ESPN's "The Jump" that he's signing with the Illawarra Hawks of the Australian National Basketball League.
LaMelo is heading to AUSTRALIA ? @MELOD1P (via @espn) pic.twitter.com/IqoxiL7Pnc
— Overtime (@overtime) June 17, 2019
He'll be joining R.J. Hampton in the Australian NBL next season and will be competing with him in a big way. LaMelo better be ready to impress when he faces off with one of the top recruits in the states, especially given his NBA Draft aspirations.
LaVar would be proud.
LaMelo Ball has signed with the Illawarra Hawks of the Australian @NBL, he just announced on ESPN's the Jump. "My goal is to be the top pick in next year's Draft and I feel they can help me reach that goal," Ball told ESPN.
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 17, 2019
The Hawks announced the news shortly after, and they already have graphics of the young baller in their threads.
IT'S OFFICIAL! ?
— Illawarra Hawks (@illawarrahawks) June 17, 2019
Welcome LaMelo Ball to the Hawks family!@MELOD1P x #FlyAsOne ?
LaMelo was ranked 21st in ESPN's Top 100 recruits and was regarded as a 5-star talent. The 6-6, 180-pound guard certainly has the tools to possibly make it in the NBA, but next season will be his biggest test yet.
Get ready, Australia. You're in for one heck of a year.