LaVar Ball Pulling Basketball Star Son LaMelo Out of Chino Hills High School
By The Associated Press ••
LaVar Ball is pulling his 16-year-old son LaMelo out of his Southern California high school to be home schooled and so he can be made into "the best basketball player ever."
LaVar told The Los Angeles Times that LaMelo, a junior, will leave Chino Hills High School on Tuesday so he will have fewer distractions and better focus.
LaMelo is considered one of the nation's top high school recruits and has committed to play at UCLA, where his brother Lonzo played last season. Lonzo is now a rookie with the Los Angeles Lakers and their brother, LiAngelo, will be a freshman at UCLA.
Shahan Ahmed
Brandon Ingram warms up at Staples Center long before the crowds are let in on Nov. 20, 2016 (Shahan Ahmed)
Shahan Ahmed
Lakers broadcaster Bill McDonald and Bill Walton, father of Lakers coach Luke Walton, pose for a picture on Opening Night of the 2016-17 season (Shahan Ahmed)
Shahan Ahmed
Future NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant and the Golden State Warriors visit the Los Angeles Lakers and Staples Center on Nov. 25, 2016 (Shahan Ahmed)
Shahan Ahmed
Larry Nance Jr. and Ivica Zubac, who are good friends off the court, play one-on-one after practice in Philadelphia on Dec. 15. 2016 (Shahan Ahmed)
Shahan Ahmed
Brandon Ingram's length on display, as he ices his knees after a practice in Philadelphia, PA on Dec. 15, 2016 (Shahan Ahmed)
Shahan Ahmed
Future LA Lakers star Lonzo Ball of UCLA plays in downtown Los Angeles against the USC Trojans for the first and only time on January 25, 2017 (Shahan Ahmed)
Shahan Ahmed
Los Angeles Local David Nwaba gets called up to play for the Lakers and can't believe his eyes as he sees his name on the team sheet ahead of his first NBA game (Shahan Ahmed)
Shahan Ahmed
Lakers versus Celtics may be a heated rivalry, but the NBA is always a family affair. March 3, 2017 (Shahan Ahmed)
Shahan Ahmed
Lakers owner Jeanie Buss smiles as Kobe Bryant comes to welcome new Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka to the organization after Buss replaced her brother with Earvin "Magic" Johnson. March 10, 2017 (Shahan Ahmed)
Shahan Ahmed
A bearded Kobe Bryant makes his first public appearance for the Lakers since retiring when he comes to support new general manager Rob Pelinka on 3/10/17 (Shahan Ahmed)
Shahan Ahmed
Under Luke Walton, practice is a bit looser, as LA Lakers forward Julius Randle displays at practice on March 11, 2017 (Shahan Ahmed)
Shahan Ahmed
Lakers Turn Downtown LA into Shaqtown on March 24, 2017 (Shahan Ahmed)
Shahan Ahmed
Former Lakers GM Jerry West, who was the architect of the Lakers' three-peat, speaks at Shaquille O'Neal's statue unveiling with Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackons looking on. March 24, 2017 (Shahan Ahmed)
Shahan Ahmed
Shaquille O'Neal's statue outside Staples Center is unveiled and it is marvelous (Shahan Ahmed)
Shahan Ahmed
Larry Nance Jr. talks to former German international goal keeper Jens Lehmann at practice in El Segundo and holds a soccer ball. (Shahan Ahmed)
Shahan Ahmed
The final home game of the 2016-17 season wraps up the season for the Laker girls, and the team poses for a picture at center court hours before the game (Shahan Ahmed)
Shahan Ahmed
Even with the Laker girls jumping for their end of season team photo, Brandon Ingram goes through his pregame routine like usual, finishing the season strong (Shahan Ahmed)
Shahan Ahmed
As he did at Luke Walton's home opener, father Bill Walton comes to Luke's final home game of the season on April 11, 2017 to congratulate his son on his first season on the bench of the LA Lakers (Shahan Ahmed)
Shahan Ahmed
Lonzo Ball sits in a chair following his pre-draft workout at the Los Angeles Lakers' facility on June 7, 2017 (Shahan Ahmed)
Shahan Ahmed
Familiar face Lamar Odom appears in Lakers' gear at the practice facility, as he helps Luke Walton's staff evaluate players for the NBA Draft (Shahan Ahmed)
Shahan Ahmed
Metta World Peace goes through his warmups one last time as a member of the LA Lakers at Staples Center on April 11, 2017
Shahan Ahmed
After picking Lonzo Ball with the no. 2 pick, Lakers coach Luke Walton talks to NBCLA to share his thoughts on the pick. (Shahan Ahmed)
Lakers president Earvin "Magic" Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka introduce Lonzo Ball to the LA Media on June 23, 2017 (Shahan Ahmed)
Shahan Ahmed
Magic Johnson calls Lonzo Ball the face of the Lakers and begs the new point guard not to take all of his records during the rookie's introductory press conference on June 23, 2017 (Shahan Ahmed)
Shahan Ahmed
The Lakers and Celtics rivalry features Lonzo Ball and Jaylen Brown at NBA Summer Legue in Las Vegas (Shahan Ahmed)
Shahan Ahmed
During NBA Summer League, Josh Hart, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma all sit out a game against the Sacramento Kings. Led by Alex Caruso, the Lakers won the game. (Shahan Ahmed)
Shahan Ahmed
LA Lakers basketball minds Magic Johnson, Rob Pelinka, Ryan West and Luke Walton chat courtside at Las Vegas Summer League on July 17, 2017 (Shahan Ahmed)
Shahan Ahmed
Kyle Kuzma warms up his shot before putting in a performance worthy of the 2017 Summer League Final MVP (Shahan Ahmed)
Shahan Ahmed
Lonzo Ball is named 2017 Summer League MVP (Shahan Ahmed)
Shahan Ahmed
Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka introduce newest Laker Kentavious Caldwell-Pope on July 18, 2017 (Shahan Ahmed)
LaMelo, who scored 92 points in a game for Chino Hills, will focus on playing for his father's travel team, Big Baller Brand.
LaVar, who played professional football in the mid-1990s, has grabbed attention over the past year with exaggerated claims and headline-grabbing antics.
The Ball family is profiled in a reality series on Facebook called "Ball in the Family."
