Focused—that’s the one word you’d use to describe a young man like Solomon “Solo” Ball, someone who has been tirelessly building his basketball career, step by step, brick by brick. From a young age, Solo’s path has been marked by commitment, hard work, and a rare kind of resilience that’s hard to find. He’s a 6’3″ guard who stands out not just for his talent but for his dedication to mastering every aspect of his game, from practicing the fundamentals to giving his all in drills.

Maybe that’s why UConn Coach Dan Hurley stated this about him: “He wants to go from a supporting actor to a leading man on a championship team.“

But who is Solo Ball?

Well, the short answer would be that he is a sophomore guard from UConn who is all set to leave a mark on the NCAA championship this season under Dan Hurley’s guidance. But well, the real story begins in Leesburg, Virginia, where a young 7-year-old kid had to choose between football, baseball, and basketball at his father’s behest. 

Of course early on Solomon and his brother always chose football or baseball. However, it all changed when a small gift of a basketball hoop in the driveway started a series of intense pickup games a year later. By age 10, Solomon announced to his dad that he had made up his mind to become a professional basketball player. “While he didn’t know what it took, he was serious about what he wanted.” Mike Ball, his father, would later share.

Solo was also clear on his goal even then, saying, “It was going to happen; it was just a matter of when.”

As Solo’s interest grew, Mike, who works as a district manager for HomeGoods, and his mother, Erica, a traveling nurse, were determined to support him. “As I began coaching him, I demanded a high level of excellence from him as I did from other players. There were just some things he had to do. If he didn’t, he would come out of the game. Like taking charges—I don’t care what the score is; if you let someone waltz down the lane, you’re sitting down for two minutes. It’s just how it works,“ explains Mike, according to Hartford Courant.

Mike never took it easy on Solo, ensuring he spent more time in the gym than anyone else. When they watched games together, Mike insisted Solo do pushups during every commercial break. “He was really hard on me,” Solo said. “I didn’t care, though. If he yells at me, so what? He’s just trying to get me better.“

This led Solo to immerse himself in the competitive world of AAU basketball, where he quickly stood out. All his workouts with his Dad had helped Solo attain a height of 6’3″ and a powerful 44-inch vertical, which played into his explosive style, making him a great scouting target.

As Solo developed through high school, he became known for his versatility on the court—a left-handed, guard with elite athleticism and a 7-foot wingspan.

And this was reflected in his time at St. James School in Maryland, where Solomon would average 25.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, making him a true powerhouse, as a guard. His performances, however, were more than stats, they were statements.

And these statements soon helped Solo Ball pave his way into the EYBL circuit. As he spoke to PrepHoops.com about his journey through the summer EYBL Circuit, he stated, “It was great for me because I’ve always wanted to play on the big stage that the EYBL offers. It was good for me to play up… I was able to show colleges what I could do and it helped.”

At EYBL, Ball was drafted by Team Melo, Carmelo Anthony’s prestigious grassroots program. “When we got to Peach Jam, I was put into the starting lineup for the last 10 games,” Solo recalls. and well let’s just say the rest was history, By the end of the summer, he was averaging 17.8 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting a sharp 57 percent from the floor—numbers that launched his recruitment and moved him up to No. 33 in the national high school rankings.

This also helped him rise to the 91st position in the ESPN Newcomer Impact Rankings for Freshmen. This rise also opened Solo’s profile to lucrative NIL opportunities, which is reflected in the growth of his social media presence. However, the exact figures of his NIL earnings are not yet public but given his status as a 4-star recruit, it can be estimated that he earns a substantial amount from his endorsements. According to On3.com, Solo Ball currently has 18.6K followers on his social media platform, Instagram, and 10.9K on TikTok, followed by 1.1K on X. 

However, EYBL was just the beginning, as the best was yet to come. Solo would later transfer to Brewster Academy in New Hampshire for his senior year, where he averaged a respectable 16.3 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 53 percent overall. This performance would earn him First Team All-NEPSAC Class AAA and Iverson Classic Selection honors. However, there’s more.

UConn: Next step in Solo’s journey

By the time Solo committed to UConn, he had plenty of options thanks to his impressive performances. He’d narrowed his choices down to powerhouse programs like USC, Miami, and DePaul, but ultimately chose the Huskies—not because of any promises, but simply because he “really wanted to go there,” as he shared with The Day.

Although he liked the idea of joining his friend from his days at St. James, Jayden Ross, at UConn, Solo made it clear his decision was entirely his own.

And well he proved that by being so good that, as a freshman, he appeared in 39 games, of which he started 10. He would also average 3.3 points and 1.0 rebounds per game in limited minutes and quickly established himself as a spark off the bench.

However, his breakout moment for the UConn Huskies would come against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the Jimmy V Classic on December 5th, where he would score a career-high 13 points. With five-for-eight shooting and three-for-six from deep, it was a glimpse of his potential. 

For players like Solo who are ready to step up, the potential for growth—and greatness—seems limitless. As he moves from a role player to a leader, Solo Ball has the chance to not only elevate UConn’s game but to make his own lasting mark in college basketball.