Charlotte Hornets' LaMelo Ball Played On The Same High School Team As This 2021 NBA Draft Pick

In 2018-19, Isaiah Jackson (Pacers 22nd overall pick) and LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets were high school teammates at SPIRE Academy in Ohio.

In 2018-19, LaMelo Ball went to Geneva, Ohio, to play for SPIRE Academy (see Tweet below from Ballislife). 

SPIRE LaMelo Ball is when he truly started showing his #1 pick potential. pic.twitter.com/TNjv5SfZDt

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) March 2, 2020

Several years later, he ended up being the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, and won Rookie of The Year playing for the Charlotte Hornets last season. 

When Ball played for SPIRE in 2018, Isaiah Jackson (new Indiana Pacers rookie) also played for the team. 

We've acquired Kentucky forward Isaiah Jackson in a trade to be finalized.

Welcome to Indiana, @IJackson22!#GoldOnTheClock | #NBADraft pic.twitter.com/hvqwucKIOD

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) July 30, 2021

Jackson was taken with the 22nd overall pick in the NBA Draft last week. 

During the 2018-19 season with Ball and Jackson, SPIRE Academy went 17-2. 

Tweets about their season together in high school can be seen below from Overtime and Twitter user @AcoleVSN.

The 1-2 punch of LaMelo Ball @MELOD1P 25pts 10reb 5ast and Isaiah Jackson @IJackson22 27pts 11reb for @SPIRE_Institute put on a show in their 95-84 win against Potter’s House in yesterday showcase game at the @TheEC16🔥🔥#mygspnscores @myGSPNSports..more highlights later today! pic.twitter.com/QdpJ0k9ZLS

— A.Cole (@AcoleVSN) December 20, 2018

LaMelo Ball, Rocket Watts, Isaiah Jackson & Spire Had The Most EPIC Season EVER! FULL HIGHLIGHTS 🔥 Full Highlights: https://t.co/qZK33pxarB pic.twitter.com/fmVR70fiT8

— Overtime (@overtime) March 27, 2019

Ball played one season in Australia in 2019-20 before being drafted to the NBA, and Jackson played for the University of Kentucky in 2020-21. 

They are both 19-years-old, but Ball is older between the two. 

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