When two well-known figures share the same last name, it often leads us to wonder if they’re related. A perfect example is the UConn Huskies, who are on a mission to win their third consecutive championship under head coach Dan Hurley. Despite losing key players like Stephon Castle, Donovan Clingan, and Tristen Newton, the team still has some familiar faces remaining. One of these returning players is a sophomore whose name might surprise you, as it could easily be confused with an NBA star.

Solomon Ball had a strong freshman season at UConn, serving as a dependable bench player. Now entering his sophomore year, he’s expected to take on a larger role with increased playing time, especially with head coach Dan Hurley highlighting his potential. However, this newfound attention has led to confusion whether Solomon is related to Charlotte Hornets standout LaMelo Ball. So, does the UConn guard actually have a connection to LaMelo?

Solomon and LaMelo Ball: Completely different stories with just a couple of on-court similarities

Even though Solomon Ball and NBA star LaMelo Ball share the same last name, they aren’t related in any way—no family ties or off-court connections here. Solomon, who’s now 20, hails from Leesburg, Virginia. He was born in December 2003 to Mike and Erica Ball, both of them belonged from inner Baltimore city.

Solomon’s dad, a former college player, played a pivotal role in developing his skills on the court. Meanwhile, Solomon took on the responsibilities of a caretaker, balancing his commitments while honing his game. He also has one older brother, Zion, and two older sisters, London and Milan.

Although Solomon Ball was born in Leesburg, he later moved to Sharpsburg, Maryland, likely to be closer to his parents’ hometown of Baltimore. It was in Sharpsburg that he attended Brewster Academy in New Hampshire, where he really worked on honing his basketball skills. Last year, he took the leap into college basketball by joining UConn. If we shift our focus to LaMelo Ball and his well-known family, it becomes evident that he and Solomon are not related at all.

Unlike Solomon’s parents, who are everyday people working hard to secure a bright future for their son, LaMelo comes from a very different background. He’s the son of LaVar Ball, a well-known businessman and co-founder of sports apparel company Big Barrel Brand, and Tina Ball, a prominent TV personality. Their paths couldn’t be more different!

LaMelo Ball was born in 2001 in Anaheim, California, which is over 2,500 miles away from Solomon’s hometown, falling in almost a different end of the country than Leesburg. He went to school there and made a name for himself as a talented player at Chino High School. Interestingly, if there were any chance of a college connection between the two, it wouldn’t hold up because LaMelo never even played in the NCAA.

Instead, LaMelo’s path to the NBA was anything but typical. Even though he verbally committed to UCLA at the young age of 13, he made the bold decision to bypass college and head overseas to pursue professional basketball. This choice really puts to rest any speculation about a shared bloodline between him and Solomon. But if you’re still looking for a connection, there are a couple of interesting similarities: both play as guards and sport the same jersey number—#1.

To get a clearer picture, the only athletes in the basketball world who are actually related to LaMelo are his siblings, who, like him, are also talented hoopers.

The only hoopers who belong to LaMelo Ball’s bloodline

The No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft, isn’t the only basketball talent in the well-known Ball family. In fact, he’s the youngest brother in a trio who all chose to make hooping their career. His older brother Lonzo Ball and younger brother LiAngelo round out this talented sibling lineup. Together, the Ball brothers have made a name for themselves, each showing promise and skill on the court, with LaMelo standing strong at 23 as one of the NBA’s rising stars.

The 27-year-old, Lonzo Ball, drafted in 2017, already has five pro seasons behind him. Starting out with the Los Angeles Lakers, he later moved to the New Orleans Pelicans, and then, after two seasons, found his way to the Chicago Bulls. This year, Lonzo makes his long-awaited return after sitting out two seasons due to a knee transplant surgery on his left leg.

LaMelo’s other older brother, LiAngelo, took a different path, making a splash when the Greensboro Swarm picked him 14th overall in the 2021 NBA G League draft. LiAngelo wasted no time in his G League debut, putting up an impressive 22 points. In 2022, he joined the Charlotte Hornets for the NBA Summer League and even landed a non-guaranteed contract with them. However, he hasn’t yet suited up for an official NBA game.

Of the three Ball brothers, LaMelo has undoubtedly made the biggest splash, consistently averaging over 20 points per game in every season but his rookie year. Now, with the recent mix-up over his last name linking him to UConn’s Solomon Ball, fans can’t help but wonder if the young Huskies guard might follow a similar path to success. Whether Solomon’s future mirrors LaMelo’s is yet to be seen, but the shared name certainly makes for an interesting twist.