Friday afternoon, UConn Hoops earned a commitment from 6’3’’ combo-guard Solomon Ball, a 4-star recruit ranked 49th by Rivals. The Brewster Academy product joins Jayden Ross and Stephon Castle in what has evolved into a loaded 2023 recruiting class that now boasts three players who could enter college as 4+-star recruits. Ball is a close friend to Ross, as the two played high school ball together at St. James School in Maryland for a few years, and still compete together on Team Melo in the AAU circuit.
THE SCOUTING REPORT....
Ball is arguably the most exciting prospect in the class, playing with a great deal of energy on both ends.
Offensively, he’s electric running the point as a confident ball-handler who doesn’t get rattled easily. His passing skills are solid and fundamental, not dishing too many flashy passes, but also not making a ton of errors. As a scorer, there’s a chance he could be the best Husky since current Charlotte Hornet James Bouknight. Ball has a beautiful, reliable jumper, with the ability to hit from both the midrange and from distance on and off the dribble. He’s shifty and knows when it’s time to take over, able to get into his stepback and drill a shot with a hand in his face.
As a finisher, Ball is equally thrilling to watch. On the fastbreak and in the halfcourt, he’s able to slam dunks in with force. When not in a position to punish the rim, Ball has a crafty and creative layup package, switching hands in mid-air and finishing with confidence.
Defensively, Ball makes the flashy plays, such as high-flying blocks, but can sometimes have trouble keeping the offense in front of him. His frame and freak-athleticism puts his defensive ceiling very high, but there’s still work to be done for Ball’s consistency on that end of the floor. Hustle is also a key feature of Ball’s game, diving for loose balls and putting his body on the line for his team.
His personality is one of the most encouraging things about Ball, with an alpha mentality that UConn needs if they want to take the next step. He may get a few technical fouls for his celebrations along the way, but knows how to act to get his teammates amped up, showing a ton of personality in his play.
STORRS IMPACT....
At UConn, it’s unlikely that Ball would be a day one starter with the amount of talent the Huskies still have on the roster, but there’s no doubt he’ll come in and contribute from the jump. He gives Coach Dan Hurley the flexibility to play him at the one or the two, which will create an exciting guard tandem of Ball and Castle, both of whom are interchangeable at the guard slots. UConn fans have a lot to look forward to with Ball, as he looks to etch his name in the collection of great Husky guards.
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