Crowd wowed as talented teen LaMelo Ball lights up the court during NBA Blitz

The hype surrounding LaMelo Ball looks well and truly justified after he flashed his array of skills during the Illawarra Hawks’ NBA Blitz game in Kingston.

LaMelo Ball flashed his skills during the Illawarra Hawks’ victory. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

HOBART basketball fans packed Kingborough Sports Centre on Friday night to catch a glimpse of a future NBA talent, and LaMelo Ball didn’t disappoint in an NBL Blitz thriller.

The hype surrounding Ball looks well and truly justified after he flashed his array of skills as Illawarra overcome an 18-point deficit in the first quarter to pip defending champions Perth 122-119 in overtime in front of 1267 spectators, with more turned away at the door.

After a slow start Ball stuffed the stat sheet with 19 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists in 32 minutes, while NBA veteran Aaron Brooks added 20 off the bench.

LaMelo Ball dribbles past Damian Martin of the Perth Wildcats. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Tim Coenraad (13 points) nailed a three-point bomb with less than a second left in regulation to lock the scores at 108 — he added the first five points of overtime to boot — while sharpshooter Todd Blanchfield scored 23 points.

“You can’t replicate those situations,” Coenraad said.

“In overtime, against the defending champions, it gives us a good confidence boost.”

Coenraad said it was exciting to be part of the development of Ball, likely to be a top-10 NBA draft pick next year after he opted to skip college to turn professional.

“At the end of the day he is an 18-year-old kid, the hype is great and it’s been really good for Illawarra, but what I like about Melo is he is willing to learn,” he said. “He is a good young kid behind all the Instagram followers and that sort of stuff, he is just a kid that wants to play ball and get better.”

Former league MVP Bryce Cotton had a night out with 27 points, six rebounds and eight assists for Perth, who limited Boomers forward Nick Kay’s minutes in the second half.