For the second time this summer, Trae Young backed LaMelo Ball as one of the top young players to keep an eye on in the near future. Earlier this year, Young quote-tweeted a highlight video of the two competing in Rico Hines runs at UCLA, declaring Ball as one of the next one’s up.
On Saturday, TMZ Sports caught up with Young and asked him again about Ball. He again offered strong praise of Ball.
“Possibly, yeah for sure. He’ll be ready the by the time he gets to the league. He’ll be good in the league. If he’s No 1, No. 2, No. 3…regardless he’ll be a good player.”
Realistically, right now, Ball is a late first-round pick. But the draft class is a weak one and at least part of the reason he’s rated so low is him being out of the public eye for much of the last couple of years. While he spent last season at Spire Institute, the team not being in the public eye much kept him relatively off the grid compared to a Cole Anthony at Oak Hill.
In Australia, scouts and analysts will get the best look they have at Ball since he left Chino Hills. He’ll also be challenged like he hasn’t at any point in his career. If he passes those challenges, it’s not inconceivable to see him jump high into the lottery.
