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Lonzo Ball basically declared for the NBA draft immediately after UCLA's NCAA tournament loss

Henry Bushnell
·Senior soccer reporter

Lonzo Ball and UCLA lost to Kentucky in the Sweet 16 on Friday night. Ball was outplayed by Kentucky point guard De’Aaron Fox, who had 39 points to Ball’s 10.

After the game, Ball wasted no time telling reporters he was off the the NBA:

This is no surprise, of course. Ball was always considered a one-and-done. His father, LaVar, had said as much, and even Lonzo and UCLA coach Steve Alford had recently confirmed his inevitable departure.

Lonzo Ball is projected as a top-three pick in the 2017 draft, and could very well go No. 1 overall. But the immediacy of his official announcement was still a bit striking.

Lonzo Ball has a unique package of size and creativity for a point guard. (AP)
Lonzo Ball is off to the NBA, as expected. (Getty)

More March Madness coverage on Yahoo Sports:
• How Chris Chiozza hit the shot of the NCAA tournament and saved Florida’s season
• These photos of Florida’s buzzer-beater are almost as incredible as the shot itself
• Billion-dollar bust: De’Aaron Fox upstages Lonzo Ball to lead Kentucky past UCLA
• Commercials during March Madness mistakenly thank Republicans for repealing Obamacare
• The Internet loves LaVar Ball memes after UCLA’s loss to Kentucky