LaMelo is already skyrocketing up the draft boards.
LaMelo Ball is now sitting near the top NBA draft boards following his performance at the NBL Blitz pre-season tournament in Tasmania.
In ESPN’s latest 2020 NBA mock draft, the 6’7 point guard has moved all the way up to No. 3, behind only Georgia Bulldogs shooting guard Anthony Edwards and Memphis Tigers center James Wiseman. Ball was previously ranked in the 20s, but his recent action with the Illawara Hawks have scouts believing he could be the No. 1 overall selection next June.
According to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, NBA scouts and executives have been quite impressed with Ball’s play thus far, including one who compared his talent to Dallas Mavericks’ stud Luka Doncic.
“If he keeps this up, I don’t see any way he isn’t in the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick,” one NBA executive told ESPN. “He completely changed my perception the type prospect he is, and all the background info I gathered here from his coaches and teammates paint a very different story what I thought about him f the court as well.”
“He reminds me Luka Doncic,” another scout said. “Just in terms his size, his feel and his creativity.”
The 18-year old brother New Orleans Pelicans point guard Lonzo Ball flirted with a triple-double against the defending champion Perth Wildcats, and reigning Defensive Player the Year, Damian Martin, as he posted 19 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists.
Ball’s first NBL game with the Illawarra Hawks will come on October 6 as they take on the Brisbane Bullets. That game, as well as other Hawks matchups, will be streamed Facebook Live.