Ballin

As point guard Lonzo Ball was tearing up the high school basketball scene in the State of California, he could have attended any basketball powerhouse that he chose to. As a high school senior, Ball took home numerous accolades which included him being a McDonald’s All-American, the State of California’s Mr. Basketball, and the Naismith Prep Player of the Year as he averaged 23.9 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 11.7 assists. Ball would ultimately decided to put his basketball skills to use for the UCLA Bruins which has been beneficial for all parties involved. As a freshman, Ball is averaging 15 points and 6.3 rebounds, while his 7.6 assists per contest are leading the nation, and he is a big reason why UCLA is once again in the national spotlight.

When the Bruins went 15-17 last year for their first losing season since 2010, there were some followers of the UCLA program that wanted head basketball coach Steve Alford fired to the point that a banner was flown around the campus seeking his removal. But as UCLA decided to stick with Alford, he went out on a limb to give back a portion of his salary for this college basketball season. And with a star studded freshmen class that includes Ball, Alford is once again the man of the hour in Westwood.

The Bruins are currently 27-3 which is good for third place in the Pac-12 Conference. The Bruins are the third ranked team in the Associated Press and they’ve held their own this season against the best the college basketball has to offer. In non-conference play, UCLA was able to defeat the Kentucky Wildcats of the Southeastern Conference who were the top ranked team in the nation at the time. And after their first meetings against the Oregon Ducks and Arizona Wildcats respectively, the Bruins were able to avenge each loss the second time around with Ball having a hand in all of it.

Ball’s first collegiate game came on November 11 against the Pacific Tigers and he messed around and almost got himself a triple-double as he finished with 19 points, 11 assists, and 8 rebounds. In UCLA’s first game against Arizona, Ball had 24 points, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds. And in the rematch with Oregon which resulted in a UCLA victory, Ball had 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Ball hasn’t been asked to consistently carry the Bruins due to he fact that he plays alongside freshman forward T.J. Leaf and senior guard Bryce Alford, but don’t sleep on his potential at the next level.

At the very worst Ball will be selected third overall in the upcoming NBA Draft as at 6’6″, he is tremendous ball handler with court vision that a franchise can build around. But in the interim, Ball is making the most of his time in college as UCLA could still win the Pac-12 Title, while they are also seeking their first trip to the Final Four since 2008. And with the calendar ready to shift to March, I expect Ball to add to his resume when the bright lights of the Pac-12 and NCAA Tournaments are on him.

Sports-reference.com