The past couple of days have created quite a frenzy for Kansas basketball fans who are not interested in seeing the youngest Ball brother, LaMelo, in crimson and blue.
Rest easy. It’s not happening.
Sources within the KU basketball program told me Wednesday night that the Jayhawks were not recruiting Lonzo Ball’s youngest brother nor had they ever had contact with LaMelo or his family about recruiting him to play at Kansas.
So no LaMelo. No LaVar. No circus.
The hysteria surfaced earlier this week because of a scene in the “Ball in the Family” reality series, where Lonzo and LaMelo were shown sitting around the kitchen table talking about LaMelo’s college plans.
The exchange was short and sweet.
Lonzo: Are you still trying to go to college?
LaMelo: Oh, I’m going for sure now. I actually talked to USC two days ago, talking to KU.”
End scene.
USA Today college hoops blog “For The Win” reported that the conversation actually took place back in November, when the episode was being filmed.
But February, November, 2018, 2019; it doesn’t matter. Kansas has never contacted LaMelo ball about playing for the Jayhawks, and even if he does wind up going to college — a feat that would require some creative work-arounds in terms of his amateur status and NCAA eligibility — it will not be at KU.
For reasons beyond his popular family and loud-and-proud father, LaMelo is actually on the national recruiting radar, listed as a 5-star prospect, No. 13 overall, in the 2019 ESPN100 rankings.
The 6-foot-6, 180-pound guard, who once scored 92 points in a game back in 2017, currently attends the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio, where he landed after leaving Chino Hills (Calif.) High after his junior season.
There is reason to believe his college eligibility has been squandered because of his decision to sign with an agent before his brief, but highly publicized stint with a professional team in Lithuania.
He also has played games in the independent Junior Basketball Association, spearheaded by his father, has his own signature basketball shoe and has appeared as a spokesman for LaVar’s Big Baller Brand shoes and basketball apparel.
LaVar seems convinced that his son’s popularity and talent will inspire some college program to sign him. But don’t let the 2-second mention of KU on the Ball family’s reality show worry you into thinking that program will be Kansas.
