The NCAA men’s national championship game is here. Michigan and UConn are set to face off Monday night, April 6, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, with tip-off scheduled for 8:50 p.m. ET.
Before a single jump ball happens, one name from the UConn roster keeps coming up in conversations and in search bars. That name is Solo Ball. People are wondering whether he is related to LaMelo, Lonzo, and LiAngelo Ball.
Who Is Solo Ball? A Look at the UConn Huskies’ Talented Center’s Life
No, Solomon Armstead Ball (who goes by Solo) is not related to the Ball brothers.
Solo was born on December 7, 2003, in Leesburg, Virginia. Growing up, basketball wasn’t something he stumbled into. It was something that was built into his life from the start.
His father, Mike, who played junior college ball back in the day, was the one who first put a ball in his hands and drilled him on the fundamentals. Mike didn’t just introduce him to the game, but he coached Solo in youth leagues and ran him through workouts that Solo himself has described as tough and demanding.
“He was really hard on me. I didn’t care, though. If he yells at me, so what? He’s just trying to get me better,” Ball said as per Hartford Courant.
His mother, Erica, has also been a steady presence throughout, and together his parents shaped the foundation of who he is as a player.
Now his family connections go deeper than just his parents. Solo comes from a lineage with real basketball roots. His cousin, Jaime Nared, was drafted by the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces, and another cousin, Jackie Nared, was also a basketball player in college.
Funny enough, the name “Ball” didn’t always feel like a gift. Solo has talked about getting teased for it in elementary school. But once he got to high school and started going by Solo Ball full time, something shifted.
He realized the name was actually kind of cool, and that it came with a responsibility. He decided to put the work in and make it mean something.
His father was also a big reason he chose UConn. That wasn’t just a recruiting visit, but it was a decision made with family guidance.
“My dad coached me growing up, and my mom was the caretaker, but she was just as hard on me. I knew UConn is exactly where I needed to be,” Ball added in his interview.
Now in his junior season, Solo has been a real contributor for the Huskies. He has been averaging 12.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game, and he played a part in getting UConn to the championship game.
But there’s some uncertainty hanging over Monday night. He picked up a foot sprain early in Saturday’s 61-52 win over Illinois, and it’s not clear yet whether he’ll be able to suit up for the title game. If he does play, nobody should expect him to take it easy.
Are Solo Ball and the NBA Ball Brothers Related?
No, Solo Ball has absolutely nothing to do with LaMelo, Lonzo, or their brother LiAngelo. They are not related. The Ball brothers, who are sons of LaVar and Tina Ball, grew up in California. Solo is from Virginia, from a completely different family, with a completely different story.
The confusion is understandable, though. They share a last name, they all play at a high level, and basketball has made “Ball” one of the more recognizable surnames in the sport right now.
The Big Baller Brand era put that name in everyone’s heads, so when a talented guard named Ball shows up in March Madness and starts playing well, fans immediately make the connection (even when there isn’t one).
Solo Ball is his own thing, but he’s carving out his own name on college basketball’s biggest stage.
