LaVar Ball suggests LaMelo may opt to skip college due to NCAA issues

LaVar Ball says that his youngest son, LaMelo Ball, may end up opting to skip out on playing college at UCLA because of NCAA issues.

Despite still having two years left before he goes to college, many are already looking forward to seeing LaMelo Ball in the NCAA. He has verbally committed to UCLA, and will follow his older brother’s footsteps, which could set his future up in the NBA. However, there have been some issues regarding his eligibility, stemming from the release of his signature shoe this summer.

That said, his father, LaVar Ball, recently hinted that it’s a possibility that he won’t play in the NCAA. The older Ball also called them out during his appearance on ESPN’s “First Take,” by saying that they are just finding ways to declare him ineligible. But he also added that he is confident that he can still make it to the NBA, as LaMelo is very talented player.

“The only thing they worried about is the money. How you thinking about not saying that the shoe look good or nothing like that? The first thing they’re trying to say is. ‘How can we make him ineligible?’ This has never happened before. So, you don’t even have a rule for it. You’re trying to find one. To say, ‘Yo, we gotta make him ineligible because he can’t be making money off a shoe.'”

“See here’s the thing, he’s not even in the NCAA and they’re trying to make something. He’s got two more years! So why even worry about that right now? But here’s the thing, when it comes to basketball and you’re good, you just better be ready for training camp … Who cares? He won’t go to the NCAA. ‘Oh, he better go overseas.’ Why? All he gotta do is be faster and stronger. And when it’s time to prepare, we could sit out for as long as we want.”

While it is not the more usual path for rookies, LaMelo can opt to play overseas for a season before declaring for the NBA Draft. This has been done in the past by Brandon Jennings and Emmanuel Mudiay straight out of high school, but still paving the way for them to get to the league.

It may not be set in stone, but LaVar could ultimately decide to have his youngest son skip college and take on a different path instead. He definitely loves the attention on him and his family, and by not having him play in the NCAA, it can make him a more intriguing prospect, and in the end, still be a top pick in the NBA.