LaMelo Ball is leaving his high school basketball team to be homeschooled and trained by his father, LaVar Ball.
LaVar Ball told the Los Angeles Times of his plans Monday, saying, "I'm going to make him the best basketball player ever."
The 16-year-old LaMelo, who scored 92 points for his Chino Hills team in a single game last season, is the younger brother of Los Angeles Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball and UCLA baller LiAngelo Ball. According to his father, the teen still intends to sign with UCLA, the Times reported.
The outspoken LaVar Ball has had a tight grip on his sons' basketball careers, drawing controversy and ire with his bravado. He has been critical of Chino Hills' new coach, Dennis Latimore, and said the split will be "good for Melo. Less distractions. He just needs to focus," according to the Times said.
"I'm not dealing with the coach over there," LaVar Ball told ESPN. "I'm not dealing with the administration over there. I don't want no distractions on Melo. So therefore I'm going to home-school him and make him the best basketball player ever."
"That coach has his own frame of mind on how he wants to play and who he picks in the team," LaVar went on to say. "OK, y'all got all that going on, let's see how you do without my tutelage. Without me training those players at my house. It seems like anybody who's training over here, that coach don't want him in the team."
LaMelo will play competitively with his spring travel team, The Washington Post reported.
The family's shoe company, Big Baller Brand, may put a wrinkle in LaMelo's NCAA aspirations, as the teen's signature shoe raises questions about eligibility, the Post noted.
Twitter users shared reactions and jokes about the announcement.
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