The LaMelo Ball show lands getting Illawarra Hawks fans excited
LaMelo has landed.
After flying into Sydney on Saturday morning, the youngest Ball brother and future NBA draft pick settled in his new central Wollongong apartment he'll call home for the next five months.
The Illawarra Hawks held a strictly behind-closed door training session at The Snakepit on Monday, as new coach and long-time assistant Matt Flinn brings together plans for a shot at the NBL championship.
Ball is set to be publicly unveiled for the first time on Wednesday, two months after appearing on American ESPN show The Jump to announce he would join the Hawks, as part of the NBL's Next Stars program to bring emerging talent to Australia.
Lavar Ball flew into Australia on Tuesday to join his son in Wollongong. Picture: AP
And while, by Ball family standards, his arrival in the Illawarra has been relatively low-key, father Lavar is set to join him this week, before launching his professional career on October 6 against Brisbane at WIN Entertainment Centre.
After the first training session, Ball was greeted by a group of excited school students who were at The Snakepit for a South Coast school tournament on Monday.
Massive thanks to our @illawarrahawks LaMelo Ball for making a whole lot of kids' days today with the high 5s, signings & selfies... The kids were still chanting Melooooooow well past 3pm : ) #FlyAsOnepic.twitter.com/ylmzkVwRya
— Steve Delaney (@stevedelay1) August 19, 2019
Ball's brother Lonzo was traded from the LA Lakers to New Orleans Pelicans at the end of the NBA season, while the family has also featured in a social media reality show.
He is already predicted by many as a top pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and has a massive social media following boasting 4.5 million followers alone.
"I am excited to be a part of the NBL's Next Stars program and to join the Illawarra Hawks team," Ball said when he announced the signing.
2019 Drew League ROY, LAMELO BALL
— UniquESports+ Featured (@SportsProvlder) August 19, 2019
I’m telling y’all he’s the type of talent that comes ONCE IN A GENERATION pic.twitter.com/tOM41jcCwL
"The NBL is a really solid league, with great coaches and players, and I am looking forward to putting all my focus and energy into basketball and getting to work."
He was also a standout in the US Drew League, a semi-pro competition, where he was described by his team's coach Gary Clark as a "once-in-a-generation" player.
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