Another Ball set to roll in NBA draft

LiAngelo Ball has submitted his early-entry paperwork for the 2018 NBA Draft, his agent, Harrison Gaines, told Yahoo Sports.

Ball, 19, has been playing professionally for Vytautas in Lithuania this season after being indefinitely suspended by UCLA following a shoplifting incident in China last year.

His younger brother, 16-year-old LaMelo, and father LaVar have been overseas with him. Older brother Lonzo, the No 2 pick in last year's draft, is the starting point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers.

LiAngelo will work out for several NBA teams and take part in the Pro Basketball Combine at IMG Academy in Florida in May, according to his agent.

Even before he got in trouble at UCLA, LiAngelo wasn't considered a top prospect in this year's draft. His stock might have improved overseas, though, as he's averaged a league-leading 15.7 points while hitting 45 percent of his shots from 3-point range in nine first-division Lithuanian league games for Vytautas.

LaVar Ball has previously predicted all three of his sons will be playing for the Lakers by 2020.

Meanwhile, Arizona Wildcats guard Rawle Alkins announced on Tuesday he will hire an agent and enter the draft.

"I have decided to enter the NBA draft with intent to hire an agent," Alkins tweeted. "Although I am leaving Arizona, my heart will always be here. I love you guys!! You have not seen the last of me."

Hiring an agent would bring an end to Alkins' NCAA eligibility, preventing him from pulling his name from the draft pool and returning to school if he wished to do so before the April 10 deadline.

Alkins, 20, averaged 13.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game as a sophomore in 2017. He averaged 10.9, 4.9 and 2.1, respectively, as a freshman.

He joins Wildcats teammates Deandre Ayton and Allonzo Trier in moving on to the NBA. Most outlets have Alkins and Trier projected in the second-round range, while Ayton is a contender to go No 1 overall.

Reuters