LaVar Ball says his youngest son LaMelo Ball could “sit out” his college career and prepare for the NBA if the NCAA rules him ineligible because of his signature Big Baller Brand sneaker.
The 6-foot-3 Ball is a junior at Chino Hills (CA) High School who has verbally committed to UCLA, where one older brother Lonzo Ball spent last season before being drafted No. 2 overall by the Los Angeles Lakers. LiAngelo Ball, the middle of the three brothers, is also a UCLA freshman. LaMelo Ball is set to enroll at UCLA in 2019 and would be eligible for the 2020 NBA Draft.
“When it comes to basketball and you’re good, you just better be ready for [NBA] training camp,” the elder Ball said Wednesday on ESPN’s “First Take.” “So they can’t stop me by saying, ‘OK, he’s not going to the NCAA.’ Who cares, he won’t go to the NCAA.
“‘Oh, he better go overseas.’ Why? All he gotta do is be faster and be stronger and when it’s time to prepare, we can sit out for as long as we want. If they’re going to give him a chance, they’re going to give him a chance.”