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UCLA Basketball Recruiting: LaMelo Ball looking into playing oversees

By Mike Regalado

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 13: (L-R) Lavar Ball and LaMelo Ball look on from the audience during week eight of the BIG3 three on three basketball league at Staples Center on August 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 13: (L-R) Lavar Ball and LaMelo Ball look on from the audience during week eight of the BIG3 three on three basketball league at Staples Center on August 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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Part of the fallout with LaVar Ball pulling LiAngelo Ball off the UCLA basketball team is that the former Bruin and his younger brother LaMelo Ball are apparently exploring options to play oversees. This implies that the youngest Ball brother will not keep his commitment to UCLA.

The Ball-UCLA basketball relationship seems to be over. After LaVar Ball pulled his son LiAngelo Ball from the team yesterday, a flurry of comments have been said about the future of the two younger Ball brothers.

RELATED: UCLA should distances themselves from LaVar Ball

The one that directly affects UCLA has to do with the future of UCLA-committed LaMelo Ball. According to Yahoo! Sports, “LaMelo and LiAngelo Ball have started to explore options to sign internationally.”

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LiAngelo is gone, so he can do what he likes (or what his father likes). The last connection the Ball family has with UCLA is LaMelo’s commitment.

As of 10 a.m. PT on Tuesday, December 5, LaMelo Ball is still committed to the UCLA basketball team, but that could change if he is planning to explore international basketball.

I wrote yesterday that UCLA should distance themselves from LaVar Ball and his family, but it looks as though the Balls are breaking away from UCLA, which is probably for the best.

The antics surrounding LaVar Ball have drawn ire from many, and of lately have become intolerable and UCLA, in my opinion, should move on and refocus their recruiting efforts for 2019. WIthout LaMelo’s commitment, the Bruins need to look at other options as they would not have a point guard committed to 2019.  They also don’t have one committed to 2018, which puts even more pressure on the following recruiting class.

Though head coach Steve Alford needs to get on the ball (no pun intended) for 2018, he has time for 2019.

Next: UCLA sits just outside the AP Top 25

With the future clearly coming into sight, it is not hard to see what is happening with the Ball family expectations. UCLA needs to change their expectations as well.