1. LAMELO BALL / GUARD / ILLAWARRA
I’m a firmer believe in star power. In prospects who simply have it. LaMelo Ball has star power. He’s the most naturally gifted player on the board, and while it’s impossible to deny the strangeness of the circumstances around Ball’s development, he’s too talented to ignore. He’s the clear No. 1 prospect.
Ball is a long 6-foot-7 guard who can make every pass in the book. Cross-court skip passes, pinpoint bounce passes, high-arching full-court outlet passes — he can do it all. He has a special talent for locating teammates and leading them to open shots. His feel for the game is similarly special to his brother Lonzo.
Where Ball’s skill set breaks from his brother is his jump shot. LaMelo is a genuinely gifted shooter who, despite his wonky mechanics, accompanies every shot with a feathery touch. He has limitless range, much shiftier handles than his brother, and a real in-between game. Defense is a major sticking point for his critics, but I.Q. and length should help LaMelo come around when the games start to count for something.