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Former high school phenoms R.J. Hampton and LaMelo Ball have helped lead the way when it comes to prospects bypassing college basketball and playing professionally overseas.
Of course, the two players each spent the 2019-20 season abroad in Australia playing in the National Basketball League. The first matchup between Hampton and Ball was watched by more than two million people in the United States, the most-watched game in NBL history.
Hampton recently jumped on the “Certified Buckets” podcast with Chiney Ogwumike, Nick Young and Sarunas Jackson and discussed playing against Ball in the NBL this season.
“I told people back home when they asked, ‘How was it playing against ‘Melo?’ I’m like, ‘He is a special talent. I actually mean special,'” Hampton said. “Of course, anybody to even get in the NBA [as a] projected lottery pick, those are special talents but I see what everybody else is saying about him because I played firsthand against him. … You can just tell he has a really good feel for the game. You can tell he has been in the backyard playing with his brothers just hoopin’. You can tell that.”
“He’s a special talent.”
NBA Draft Prospect @RjHampton14 shows respect to @MELOD1P on the new episode on @Spotify: https://t.co/VvOt4sZgvf pic.twitter.com/puO7hWhvn9
— Certified Buckets (@CertifiedBckts) April 14, 2020
In the first matchup between the two players, Hampton led the New Zealand Breakers to a blowout win with eight points, six rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal. On the other side, Ball finished with 10 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals with the Illawarra Hawks.
Ball was named the NBL Rookie of the Year after averaging 17 points, 7.5 rebounds, seven assists and 1.7 steals in 12 games with the Hawks. Both players had their seasons cut short due to injury but both are said to be healthy now and preparing for the NBA Draft.
Hampton is projected to be selected 12th in the latest 2020 Rookie Wire NBA Mock Draft and Ball is No. 3 and among the players in the conversation to be the top pick.
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