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UCLA eliminated from March Madness: Did Lonzo Ball declare for NBA Draft?

By Will Schreefer

Mar 4, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) signals in the second half against the Washington State Cougars at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) signals in the second half against the Washington State Cougars at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Checking in Lonzo Ball’s draft plans after UCLA was eliminated from the 2017 NCAA Tournament

Lonzo Ball’s UCLA Bruins have lost in the NCAA Tournament, falling to the Kentucky Wildcats 86-75 in a rematch of a matchup we got earlier in the regular season. Though Lonzo and crew were able to pull away in that one, they couldn’t match Kentucky’s firepower in round 2, and were eliminated in the Sweet 16. Lonzo struggled a bit, hitting just one of his six 3-pointers, but he still threw a number of excellent assists. He and his team just didn’t quite have enough today.

If there’s any justice in the world, the next news we’ll get from the Ball family is outspoken patriarch Lavar gifting the world with his re-enactment of ‘Crying Jordan.’ After all, the elder Ball had repeatedly stated Lonzo would lead UCLA to the national championship – a Sweet 16 appearance ain’t that. Do the right thing, Lavar.

More likely — and actually important  though, will be Lonzo’s official declaration on his eligibility for the upcoming NBA draft. In a spectacular freshman campaign, Ball transformed UCLA from an also-ran program into a legitimate contender for the last weekend – with much the same cast as UCLA had last year. He led the nation in assists and averaged nearly 15 points per game, shooting 42 percent from 3-point land, and also stuffing the box score in various other categories. His efforts were enough to land him on the list of the top four candidates for the Naismith and AP player of the year awards.

In the wake of the defeat, Lonzo confirmed this loss would be his last game at UCLA.

Widely expected to be among the top-5 picks in the upcoming draft, Lonzo is considered by many to be a generational passing prospect. While there are holes in his game (read his scouting report from The Step Back here!), his playmaking vision, willingness, and ability coupled with his potential ability to shoot off the dribble make him a tantalizing guard prospect for teams at the top of the lottery. Whether or not he goes to the Lakers — a team Lavar Ball has expressed significant preference for — Lonzo will hear his name called early on June 22nd. While his career at UCLA is over, his pro career is just beginning.

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