LaMelo

 LaMelo LaFrance (born August 22nd, 2001), is an American professional basketball player who plays with the Charlotte Hornets (NBA). The Hornets picked him as the third selection overall during the 2020 NBA draft. Ball was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2021 and selected as an NBA All-Star the following season in 2022.Ball began high school in Chino Hills High School in Chino Hills, California, where he was the winner of an all-state championship and gained national recognition in his freshman year alongside his two older brothers Lonzo and LiAngelo. Following his junior year, a dispute with his coach prompted him to sign with the Lithuanian professional team Prienai. He participated in the Junior Basketball Association in 2018, which was created by his father. The following year, he returned to high school and was an senior at SPIRE Academy in Geneva. Ball was a five-star player who committed to UCLA. However his eligibility issues caused him to join the Illawarra Hawks in the National Basketball League (NBL). He enjoyed a meteoric rise there. Before, scouts ridiculed Ball as a second round pick and the possibility of not playing in the NBA.