NBA Comparison: Bruce Brown/Devin Carter

Strengths: At around 6’3 to 6’4 and 190 pounds, with a 6’10 wingspan,  Ball possesses a standard pro frame but has incredible quickness and acceleration that makes him hard to key in on … Was touted as a slasher out of high school who excelled at getting to the basket but had an average outside shot; with the Huskies this year, he has shot 42.2% from deep on nearly seven attempts a game …  Rarely causes turnovers and is consistently able to create space from defenders to generate good looks …  Isn’t a lazy guard, always moving around the perimeter, under off ball screens and through traffic to create openings for himself …  Mechanically, he is one the best pure shooters in this class, can shoot off the dribble efficiently while also being one of the best catch and shoot guards in the Big East … Despite transitioning into a shooter at the collegiate level, he still showcases his ability to get to rim here and there and has the potential to be a dynamic three-level scorer… Ball uses his athleticism in a variety of ways, has a great change of pace and can bait defenders into favorable situations for himself … Despite being known for his speed, he isn’t a weak player and can battle through contact relatively well… Is a threat at the rim and his high flying skill set adds another layer of depth to his game… Is a very good free throw shooter (84.7% from the line), isn’t someone defenses will be comfortable fouling… Despite analytics numbers showing some defensive shortcomings, his length and improvement as the season progressed, including how he defended Walter Clayton for much of the second round NCAA tourney game, gives his defensive potential a lot of intrigue …

Weaknesses: His agility will become less unique in the pros, will have to be able to beat guys with bigger frames and comparable speed …  Average strength will force him to either bulk up or become extremely comfortable with finishing through contact and drawing fouls …  Ball’s success in college came as nearly a pure shooter, hopefully his game isn’t limited to just the perimeter while finding his role in the NBA …  Struggled with finishing at the rim in college, could be a result of being one of the main options for UConn this season but still, he’ll need to be more efficient in the pros… Will most likely never be a great secondary playmaker, while not an inherently selfish player, he often prioritizes himself being the one to score …  Still must become a more complete defender and learn better insticts on spacing, add strength and toughness …  His lateral quickness allows him to quickly get over screens and he is serviceable when switching or getting a last second contest, but there isn’t much application on that end from Ball so far… Lacks a strong defensive IQ and struggles in isolation, especially against players that are bigger than him… Will be entering this draft at 21 years old, and some teams may question his readiness for a player his age … Was not really used in isolation situations and there are concerns regarding his ability to create baskets for himself on the perimeter … Failed to impact UConn’s final game of season, with just 2-9 shooting, and being outplayed by

Overall: Solo Ball was one of the biggest risers in this year’s draft class, was buried deep in the depth chart for last year’s outstanding Huskies team and shined the moment he was given an opportunity …  Jumping from three points to leading UConn in points per game with 14.6, his growth in just one year is undeniable and caught the eyes of many …  His innate ability to score the ball and the go-get-it mentality to play at 100% all the time make him an easy prospect to become interested in …  Ball in his first full year as a starter was clearly one of the best shooters in the Big East and for the majority of his playing career, shooting was never considered to be his best attribute … His newfound ability to space the floor paired with his existing ability to shift defenders and attack the paint aggressively could allow him to reach a Zach Lavine-esque ceiling … As he stands right now he is a high risk/high reward pick in this class … His lack of defense in almost every category, slightly undersized frame for someone who will definitely play at the two in the NBA and his inefficiency at times could prove too much to overcome … There have been plenty of players who have failed to overcome these hurdles, but not many have been able to reach new heights and develop their games as quickly as Ball… A year ago he was looked at as a pure slasher and now his shooting will be the reason he gets his name called on draft night … If he could turn one of his weaknesses into his biggest strength in a matter of months, imagine what he could do with the help of NBA trainers and upgraded competition … Ball has the mindset and skills to make that change a reality and possibly be the league’s next star guard if all goes well …

Notes: Full name: Solomon Armstead Ball … Native of Leesburg, VA … Wingspan has been reportedly measured at 6’10 and possesses a 40 inch vertical …

Isaiah Maldonado 3/26/25