Fans and basketball pundits alike are still pondering the idea of bringing back the rule which allows top prospects out of high school the chance to jump straight into the league, but for Hornets PG LaMelo Ball he’s confident that he could’ve competed in the league since he was 14.
In an interview with the New York Times, LaMelo says his thought process while in high school was believed he could compete in the NBA.
“Reasonably competed? I would say, my thought process, I was 14 at the time when I thought I could have been,” Ball told Jonathan Abrams of the New York Times.
Ball has put together a great rookie campaign for the Charlotte Hornets, despite all the pressure and eyes focused on him. LaMelo could’ve been the runaway Rookie of the Year if a wrist injury didn’t keep him out of action for several weeks.
Just for context, LaMelo averaged 16.4 points and 3.8 assists as a freshman at Chino Hills.
Turn the page to see just how good LaMelo was his freshman year playing alongside his brothers Lonzo and LiAngelo.