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It is official. We can report young American superstar basketballer LaMelo Ball has fully integrated into Wollongong. How do we know? Well, after being introduced to the crowd at the Illawarra Hawks' season launch on Wednesday night, LaMelo was interviewed on stage by the night's compere. He was asked: "So, LaMelo, what's your favourite part of Wollongong?". Without skipping a beat and with completely honesty, the future NBA draftee replied: "Chiko's". Yep, he could have said many things, but he isolated one of our most iconic and well-known takeaway joints right outside the entrance to the stadium. Read more: LaVar Ball interview: 'My boys were born to ball' The exact stadium where thousands will pack themselves every home game in this coming National Basketball League season, many just to see him. It was a comment which was both funny and genuine. It was a comment which instantly endeared him to everyone in the room. If the people at Chiko's weren't working on a Melo Burger from that very point on then they are clearly missing a massive opportunity. Seriously though, one thing has been abundantly clear during his time here so far. LaMelo has his game face on. This young man is not here to muck around, check out the local hot spots (he has just turned 18) or goof off. As the name would suggest, he's here to Ball. And rightly so. The season with the Hawks is a crucial step in a pathway which is leading towards the NBA and the riches that the best basketball league in the world offers. Fame and fortune beckons. If he keeps on the path, stays focused, trains hard, is a good team-mate, then the rest will take care of itself. And he may just also help put the spotlight on a couple of his young team-mates who also have their own claims to future international success, the likes of the homegrown Illawarra product Angus Glover and young big man Sam Froling. It's an exciting team to be in Wollongong and it's an exciting time to be a Hawkhead. Julian O'Brien is the editor of the Illawarra Mercury and a proud Hawkhead

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