What felt like a foregone conclusion is now official: LaMelo Ball has declared for the 2020 NBA Draft.
Ball's name was on the list of "professionals" given to teams Tuesday, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported.
The point guard played 12 games in the National Basketball League in Australia this past season, averaging 17 points, 6.8 assists and 7.6 rebounds per game. In a draft that seems wide-open, Ball is considered one of the few prospects with a chance to go first overall thanks to his 6-7 height and court vision reminiscent of his brother Lonzo.
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LaMelo Ball took an untraditional route to the NBA Draft, leaving his Chino Hills (Calif.) High School team before his junior year to play in Lithuania. He returned to the U.S. for his senior year before heading to Australia.
In Sporting News' most recent mock draft, Ball is taken No. 3 overall by the Timberwolves.
The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor has Ball as his No. 2 overall prospect. "(He) passes like he’s on the Harlem Globetrotters, and it somehow works." O'Connor wrote. "He needs to dramatically improve his scoring efficiency, but he has the upside to become one of the NBA’s best playmakers."
ESPN's Jonathan Givony reported 205 early-entry players declared for the draft.