CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT

In shattering news for the college basketball system, yet another NBL team has signed an American teenager who would prefer to get paid a medium income instead of pretending to get an education.

As of this morning, the youngest brother of America’s newest sporting dynasty, LaMelo Ball has confirmed he will be playing with the Illawarra Hawks in another recruiting coup for the NBL.

This comes just weeks after top NBA Draft prospect RJ Hampton also decided he wouldn’t mind making money after school and signed with the NBL’s New Zealand Breakers.

However, LaMelo, the younger brother of pro-basketballers Lonzo and LiAngelo Ball – says New Zealand is a bit chilly for him, and instead he’s gone for a slightly warmer climate.

Aside from the lifestyle of beaches and heaps of Macedonian and Greek food, Lamelo says the $49k-per-year-after-tax salary he’s being offered by the NBL is icing on the cake.

“It’s good to get paid” says the 17-year-old.

“And I’ve been following the Hawks since I was a young kid. So, this all makes sense to me”

However, to pay rent in the increasingly costly NSW South Coast, LaMelo Ball has today revealed he’s had to take a couple night shifts at the Port Kembla BlueScope steelworks.

“Just three 12-hour shifts a week” say LaMelo.

“No big deal. It’s good coin aye”

When asked if working with molten metals and a bunch of piss-cutting steel workers was how he envisioned his year off between school and the NBA, LaMelo says it’s actually better than he could have asked for.

“I’m really enjoying it here. I’ve joined the union and I’ve signed up for footy tipping”

“Go the Dragons!!”