Introduction to a Legendary Season
Driving along the 71 Freeway toward the Inland Empire, you pass Chino Hills High and immediately think of the Ball brothers and the greatest season of high school basketball excellence. It led to “SNL Weekend Update” skits of their father, LaVar, who was a soothsayer telling everyone that his boys would be stars while granting any and all interviews to media and fans alike. No high school team in Southern California has generated more interest and excitement. You had to line up hours before tipoff to get into gyms. Then the fun began — dunks, shot attempts from well beyond NBA three-point range and fans begging for autographs from teenagers at a public school.
The Team’s Success
They were the teenage Harlem Globetrotters during the 2015-16 season. “It was crazy, something we never thought was going to happen,” said Steve Baik, who coached Chino Hills during the 2015-16 season. “We were learning on the fly, getting extra security, managing ticket sales, creating guest lists. It was a storybook situation.” The team would go 35-0, winning Southern Section and state championships. Lonzo, LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball became social media sensations. Anyone with a camera sought to maximize the moment. And yet, as big of a circus atmosphere that it became, the focus never changed. They wanted to go unbeaten and prove they were the No. 1 team in the nation.
A Season to Remember
The banner celebrating Chino Hills’ 35-0 basketball team from 2015-16 hangs in the school’s gymnasium. (Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times) This is the 10th anniversary of a season that makes people smile when they reminisce about all the personalities involved, all the images they saw, all the greatness that was on display. Three of the starters would become NBA first-round draft picks — Lonzo, LaMelo and Onyeka Okongwu. Lonzo became a Laker. LaMelo grew to be the tallest Ball brother at 6 feet 7 and maybe the best. LiAngelo became a rapper. Eli Scott, the fifth starter, became a star at Loyola Marymount. Okongwu went to USC before becoming an Atlanta Hawks first-round pick.
Overcoming Challenges
“I felt that whole year we were going against teams that wanted to give us their best shot,” Baik said. “It was truly a gauntlet. When I look back, it’s remarkable how many games we could have lost. If we were 34-1, we would have considered that season a loss.” Chino Hills’ LaMelo Ball drives to the basket in 2017. (Los Angeles Times) Eighteen times, Chino Hills scored 100 or more points, starting with 131 points in an opening win over San Bernardino. There were two wins over Foothills Christian, led by future first-round draft pick TJ Leaf. There was an 83-82 win over national power Montverde Academy at the City of Palms tournament in Florida.
The Ball Brothers’ Impact
As someone who witnessed many of Chino Hills’ games that season, one of the main questions from the start was whether LaMelo would start as a freshman. That was the big discussion in the summer of 2015. Chino Hils guard LaMelo Ball tries to split the defense of Foothills Christian guards T.J. Lowery, left, and Nikko Paranada during a game on March 15, 2016, at Colony High School in Ontario. (Los Angeles Times) “It wasn’t a matter of figuring out if we would start him,” Baik said. “We had a couple of practices and he was special. There’s not too many point guards who are elite passers. I grew up admiring Jason Kidd, Jacque Vaughn. And now he was on the same team as Lonzo.”
The Family’s Involvement
When LaMelo scored 27 points in his summer high school debut as a 13-year-old, the momentum of forming a once-in-the-lifetime team with three brothers leading the way was unstoppable. LaVar Ball stands on what was once a dirt path at Chino Hills State Park where he used to train his sons in their early years. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) During the season, the most remarkable moments were seen by reporters after games. The Ball brothers were led to a Chino Hills classroom to be interviewed. LaVar was nowhere to be found. He purposely let his boys sink or swim on their own. Lonzo was the quiet, reserved brother. LiAngelo was always smiling. And LaMelo was LaVar’s twin — you never knew what might come out of his mouth.
The Team’s Legacy
Lonzo was always the leader and ready to step in when needed. His passes were magnificent and his unselfishness legendary, and basketball old-timers recognized a teenager mature beyond his years. “I just knew they were really good kids, different from other superstars,” Baik said. “They were really about the team. Lonzo led the charge being the most unselfish player. I had to beg him at times to shoot. They were focused on their goal. Their parents groomed them. They were focused on becoming professionals at a young age.” LaVar Ball sits in his Rolls-Royce in front of a trail where he used to train his sons in their early years at Chino Hills State Park. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Conclusion
LaVar and his wife, Tina, were always accessible, looking on as proud parents. LaVar, of course, was a little more vocal. But he was so friendly and approachable that even opposing fans had fun engaging in banter and discussions. And once they saw the entertainment provided by the boys, they became fans, too. LaMelo Ball, brother of UCLA’s Lonzo Ball, scored 92 points for Chino Hills High last night. 30-39 2-pt FG 7-22 3-pt FG 11-14 FT pic.twitter.com/LaL2snIdk4— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 8, 2017 Baik resigned at the end of the season, with speculation that LaVar forced him out. Baik said that was not true. He had his ups and downs with LaVar but was planning to leave coaching after the birth of his second child. “Part of me wishes I could have continued to coach LaMelo all the way through,” he said.
FAQs
Q: What was the team’s record during the 2015-16 season?
A: The team went 35-0, winning Southern Section and state championships.
Q: How many of the starters became NBA first-round draft picks?
A: Three of the starters — Lonzo, LaMelo, and Onyeka Okongwu — became NBA first-round draft picks.
Q: What was LaVar Ball’s role in the team’s success?
A: LaVar Ball was the father of the Ball brothers and was a vocal supporter of the team. He was also involved in the training and development of his sons.
Q: What is LaMelo Ball doing now?
A: LaMelo Ball is one of the stars in the NBA, playing for the Charlotte Hornets and earning a spot in the 2022 All-Star Game.
Q: What is the legacy of the Chino Hills basketball team?
A: The team’s legacy is putting Chino Hills on the map during a five-month basketball run that entertained fans at a level no school has reached since.
