The lefty sophomore is second on the team in scoring and providing a consistent shooting threat
Solo Ball has heard all the comparisons in his first two years at UConn, many of them coming from Jon Rothstein: Cuttino Mobley, Delonte West, a Jordan Hawkins-esque sophomore leap.
Solo got some early playing time last year as a sophomore but then ran toward the opportunity to be a leader this year: “It only made me want to work harder. 10 times harder. I focused on my defense, getting my offense better, and becoming a guy that can help the team win.”
Ball always had really great athleticism. When he stepped into a starting role for Steph Castle last year he looked solid on the court as well. But he didn’t play as much the rest of the season as Castle returned and Hassan Diarra made a leap as a senior to crowd the guard rotation. Despite certain interest from other schools, Ball decided to stay in Storrs.
UConn freshman Solomon Ball is standing out in this practice. Can score from all three levels. Has some Cuttino Mobley/Delonte West in his game. Bucket getter.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) August 2, 2023
So much Delonte West in Solomon Ball…. https://t.co/0STQE78QnK
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) November 10, 2024
Well embedded moles in Storrs continue to rave about Solomon Ball’s progress for UConn. A big sophomore jump would be a major boost to the Huskies’ perimeter. REMEMBER: Ball had 13 last December in the Jimmy V Classic against North Carolina at MSG.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) September 27, 2024
For a UConn men’s basketball team facing heavy roster turnover and new roles, the sophomore from Virginia has stepped up from reserve status into a leadership role. The lefty is averaging 13.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg, and 2.5 apg while shooting 57 percent from the field and 47 percent from three.
In a world where you can never have enough shooters, a lefty shooter with plus athleticism is a welcome backcourt shooting complement to wings Alex Karaban and Liam McNeeley.
Most teams of UConn’s caliber restock the cupboard with the portal and let the chips fall where they may. The coaching staff at UConn instead doubled down on its returning sophomore.
“If we didn’t believe they could all three be starters and in our top seven, we would have went in the portal,” said head coach Dan Hurley. “We believe in them.”
Ball has shown so much growth that Hurley is comfortable giving him the starting nod over senior captain Diarra. Headband Hass has the pedigree to be starting, but his skill set is better utilized as a change-of-pace, elevated sixth-man role, a continuation of what he did so well last year.
Keeping Diarra in that comfort zone wouldn’t be possible if the staff didn’t trust Solo at the combo guard spot. Through four games, even though all four opponents were cupcakes, you can see why the staff trusts him. Ball is getting his shots within the rhythm of the offense. He doesn’t press the issue and is using his athleticism to get involved on the defensive end.
Jordan Hawkins went from 5.8 ppg in 14.7 mpg as a freshman to 16.2 ppg in 29 mpg as a sophomore and improved every other statistical average across the board to boot. The closer Solo tracks to that progression, the closer the outcome will be for both the individual and the team.
Not all growth is linear. Ball is still in the bottom quadrant of Evan Miya’s defensive BPM metrics. But Hurley knows the little things will take time; “We have to eat some growing pains with them (the sophomores), but their upside is what gives us a high ceiling as the season progresses.”