While the Ball brothers made history on Wednesday in becoming the first brothers selected in the top-5 in the NBA Draft in the league’s history, both are connected to another top-10 draft pick. Onyeka Okongwu was selected No. 6 by the Atlanta Hawks.
Okongwu played alongside the Ball brothers at Chino Hills, spending one year with Lonzo when the Huskies won the state title and two years with LaMelo before he withdrew from school. Okongwu and LaMelo stayed in touch in the years after Ball left Chino Hills and the group as a whole that won a state title kept in contact. The Ball brothers have been supportive of both Okongwu and the fifth starter on that team Eli Scott, who is entering his senior year at Loyola Marymount.
After being drafted to Atlanta, Okongwu discussed the players he was most looking to face at the next level and his previous teammates’ names came up.
Onyeka Okongwu, on the opponent he looks forward to facing:
"LeBron James and Giannis. I feel like those are the top players in the league, and obviously I want to go up against the Ball brothers. They were my teammates in high school."
— Kevin Chouinard (@KLChouinard) November 19, 2020
Okongwu will have his chance to play both brothers this season. The NBA’s restricted schedule of just 72 games means that the Hawks will play the Pelicans just once next season. However, Okongwu will have four match-ups against Charlotte, who is a Southeast Division rival.
