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18-year-old LaMelo Ball appears to finally be on the verge of purchasing the Illawarra Hawks, the Australian club he played for last season in the National Basketball League.
Jermaine Jackson, the manager for Ball, said last month the two had completed the purchase of the Hawks but the NBL quickly refuted that claim due to a miscommunication. Now, according to Tim Barrow of the Illawarra Mercury, the deal for the two to acquire the Hawks is imminent.
Ball played 12 games with the Hawks before a foot injury cut his season short. Ball was named the NBL Rookie of the Year after averaging 17 points, 7.5 rebounds, seven assists and 1.7 steals while he shot 37.3% from the field and 24.3% from 3-point range.
Ball joined the Hawks as part of the “Next Stars” initiative, a program designed to give high school prospects a path to play professionally. Ball was fully committed to the team and community, even donating one month of his salary in January to help Australian wildfire relief.
Ball is projected to be a lottery pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Related: 2020 NBA Draft Big Board: Top 100 after early-entry deadline
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