Despite losing key players Donovan Clingan, Stephon Castle and Tristen Newton, the UConn Huskies have stayed relevant, playing strong basketball and clinching an at-large NCAA tournament bid. As they look to three-peat, Huskies head coach Dan Hurley has found dependability in a young-gun, sophomore guard Solomon Ball.
Ball has excelled for the Huskies in his sophomore season, averaging 14.6 points per game and dropping 14 in the team’s first round victory over No. 9 Oklahoma.
But while his last name may be Ball, Solomon is not a part of the legendary basketball family, spearheaded by patriarch Lavar Ball and producing NBA stars LaMelo, LiAngelo and Lonzo. Find out more about Ball’s personal life here.
Are UConn’s Solomon Ball and NBA Star LaMelo Ball Related?
No, Solomon Ball and LaMelo Ball aren’t related. Solomon, 20, is from Leesburg, Virginia and born in Dec. 2003 to parents Mike and Erica Ball, both from inner Baltimore city. He also has three older siblings, older brother Zion and older sisters London and Milan.
Mike, a former college basketball player, helped develop Solomon’s skills on the court as the family moved from Leesburg to Sharpsburg, Maryland. Solomon then attended Brewster Academy in New Hampshire, where he honed his basketball skills.
Meanwhile, LaMelo was born in 2001 in Anaheim, California, about 2,500 miles away from Leesburg. LaMelo and the rest of his siblings attended Chino Hills High School before carving their way toward the NBA. And while Lonzo and LiAngelo attended UCLA, LaMelo decided to forgo college and instead take his talents to Lithuania.
KEEP READING: ‘At UConn, You’re Supposed to Win’ — Dan Hurley’s Take on March Madness Mindset
Despite their differences and lack of relation, the two Balls do have one thing in common. Their jersey number. While LaMelo has established himself as one of the best players in the NBA and Solomon establishes himself at UConn, they both sport the No. 1 on their chests.
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