In all likelihood, LaMelo Ball is not going to play college basketball. There would be three major hurdles for him if he were to pursue that path, all of which seem insurmountable. Ball played professional basketball in Lithuania, and while his father claims he was not paid for doing so, the NCAA would likely be extremely skeptical of that. He also has an association with an NBA agent, Harrison Gaines, who represents his two older brothers. And finally, he is still seen as an endorser for Big Baller Brand. His name is listed on their website. All in all, the NCAA would likely not view him as an eligible amateur under those circumstances.

That leaves Ball two realistic options, barring a return to Europe, before he can enter the NBA Draft in 2020. He could remain in prep school for another year, or he could play in the G-League next season. According to Corey Evans of Rivals, Ball seems to be leaning towards the former under the notion that it would give his father, LaVar Ball, more control over the narrative surrounding his son.

On paper, that appears to be the right move for Ball. He has already dominated at the Spire Institute, winning the Grind Session MVP Award, so playing well at the prep level is nothing new for him. If he were to play in the G-League for one year, he would have to play against grown men, players who have already graduated college and played professionally. There is little to gain from it, as they are not top prospects, but quite a bit to lose if he fails to live up to the hype.

The one advantage of playing in the G-League is that Ball could be paid up to $150,000 through a select contract. The NBA recently instituted that option for top prospects as an alternative to college. For some players, it makes quite a bit of sense to be paid six figures rather than attend college for free. But Ball has no financial concerns. His brother is already an NBA player, so he is not coming from the same places that other prospects, many of whom have had substandard living conditions growing up, have had to endure. Ball can afford to be a bit more selective here.

If Ball were to stay in school for another year, it's unclear if he would remain at Spire or head elsewhere. But no matter what he chooses, his name will still appear frequently in the media. Big Baller Brand has three key figures. One of them, Lonzo Ball, might be traded this offseason and is dealing with an injury. Another, LiAngelo Ball, is never going to play in the NBA. That leaves LaMelo as perhaps the burgeoning company's best hope moving forward, and Lavar Ball is going to leverage his son's talent for all it's worth.