Column: A band of brothers named Ball makes Chino Hills a basketball contender
Brothers LaMelo, Lonzo and LiAngelo Ball (from left) watch Chino Hills teammates play against Muir during a game last summer.
Whether he’s throwing length-of-the-court passes for assists, firing in threes from NBA range, dunking on drives to the basket or using his 6-foot-6 frame to rebound and block shots, Lonzo Ball of Chino Hills is always the player to watch on a basketball court.
“He has to be one of the most special players to ever come out of California,” Chino Hills Coach Steve Baik said.
Chino Hills has to be among the most fun teams around the Southland to watch, including the Clippers, Lakers, UCLA and USC..
With three Ball brothers in the starting lineup — Lonzo, a senior; LiAngelo, a 6-6 junior; and 5-10 freshman LaMelo — the Huskies have a unique chemistry that is apparent in the unselfish passes and sixth-sense movements that perhaps only brothers can pull off.
There’s also an offensive strategy to run, run, run and shoot, shoot, shoot that could lead to the Huskies’ scoring 100 or more points many times this season. The state record is 18 games of 100 or more points, set by San Francisco Balboa in 1995-96.
“Their system of play is unique,” Encino Crespi Coach Russell White said. “It’s a lot like when all the football teams went to a spread offense. They leak two guys out after shots.”
The Huskies try to score on transition baskets, on offensive rebounds and off steals from a trapping defense. Their players have the green light to shoot from almost anywhere and they have been conditioning so thoroughly over the last few months that they could form their own cross-country team.
“We hope the defense leads to high-scoring nights,” Baik said.
This season has been on the Balls’ must-do lists for years. It’s the reason LaMelo, who turned 14 in August, was not held back a grade. It’s the one season the brothers, all committed to UCLA, will get to play together on the same team.
“We’re looking to do big things,” Lonzo said. “We’re focused on winning and playing together.”
It’s not just the Ball brothers who know each other. There’s a 6-7 cousin, Andre Ball, on the team. Other teammates have been on the youth travel circuit with the Balls. Because Lonzo is so unselfish and doesn’t care how many points he scores, everyone is happy filling their role on the team.
“Whoever is open takes the shot,” Lonzo said. “Hopefully we get an offensive rebound if we miss. Then we press. We’re all a family. We’re all brothers.”
With players prepared to run up and down the court nonstop for 32 minutes, the challenge for opponents will be immense.
The conductor is Lonzo, who’s being compared to Jason Kidd as one of the top high school point guards ever to play in California.
“Point guards are judged by wins and losses, not how many points they score,” Ball said. “If I have to pass to win, that’s what I’ll do. If I have to score to win, that’s what I’ll do.”
There are some very good high school basketball teams in the region this season. Chatsworth Sierra Canyon, Torrance Bishop Montgomery and Santa Ana Mater Dei all have the personnel to compete against the best. In the City Section, Westchester and Fairfax will receive competition from Dorsey, Taft and Washington.
In the end, though, someone is going to have to figure out how to beat Chino Hills and the Ball brothers to make it to Sacramento for the state championships on March 26.
Twitter: @LATSondheimer
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