LaMelo Ball is narrowing down his options on where he will play ball next season, and Australia’s biggest league apparently is in pursuit of him.
The New York Times’ Marc Stein reported on Sunday night that Australian’s National Basketball League is trying to sign Ball to a “next stars” contract. That is their program where they try and attract NBA prospects who are considering a year of pro ball rather than college before entering the NBA Draft.
Stein specifically says the Illawarra Hawks have been connected to Ball.
The Illawarra Hawks of the @NBL have been mentioned as a potential landing spot for LaMelo Ball, but "Next Stars" contracts are negotiated with the league rather than individual teams and players are then placed by the league with various franchises
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 17, 2019
LaMelo is the youngest of LaVar Ball’s three sons. Lonzo, the former No. 2 pick in the NBA Draft, is being traded by the Lakers to the New Orleans Pelicans. LiAngelo Ball enrolled at UCLA but was pulled out after a theft scandal in China. LaMelo and LiAngelo then went to play in Lithuania briefly. LaMelo was originally committed to UCLA but eschewed that plan to begin his pro career before going back to play for the Spire Institute in Ohio.
LaMelo is currently playing in the famed Drew League in Los Angeles. He said on Instagram that a decision on his future was coming soon.
LaMelo will be eligible for the 2020 NBA Draft.
