Last week LaVar Ball announced that both of his younger sons, LiAngelo and LaMelo, had signed with agents, effectively ending any chance that either would play college basketball.
He also said that he wanted both 19-year-old LiAngelo and 16-year-old LaMelo, who was recently pulled out of Chino Hills high school, to both play for the same team overseas as they prepare for a potential NBA career.
It appears that LaVar may get his wish. On Monday, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski announced that both LiAngelo and LaMelo are in serious discussions to sign with the Lithuanian pro basketball club Prienu Vytautas. Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports reports that the two Balls have signed a one-year and are expected to join the club at the start of 2018.
Sources: LaMelo and LiAngelo Ball have turned pro, signing one-year contracts with first division Lithuanian team Vytautas. They will report to the club in early January.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 11, 2017
Lithuanian team Vytautas‘ statement on signing LaMelo and LiAngelo Ball to one-year deals: “Our club is excited for the arrival of LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball. We are committed to their long-term success and development as professional basketball players.”
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 11, 2017
According to Jonathan Givony of Draft Express, the brothers would likely not play much for Prienu Vytautas, but could see more minutes in a lower-stakes league.
The Ball brothers are not expected to see major playing time for Prienu Vytautas in the Lithuanian (LKL) league, but could be afforded an opportunity to develop in the Baltic (BBL) League, where the stakes are much lower. The club must decide whether to pull the trigger first. https://t.co/XIihTVnZMD
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) December 11, 2017
Talent evaluators have been skeptical of LiAngelo's NBA prospects, while LaMelo is the No. 15 overall prospect in his class, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings.
Older brother Lonzo is a rookie point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers who was taken No. 2 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft.
