Rising Sophomores to Watch

[azcatz11]

You think he’s older? Interesting. Just because he’s from Mali? Thanks for your input btw

I'm thinking it's because Ballo started at Gonzaga in 2019 if he hadn't redshirted and didn't loose a season to covid he could of been a senior this year, otherwise being from Mali is an outdated take that there are birth certificate issues, he moved to Spain as an 11 year old lol

I think Ballos a great college player but too much of an old school big to stick in the NBA, I really like Tubelis though.

Mali doesn’t have birth certificate issues? Huh

https://reliefweb.int/report/mali/mali-148000-displaced-children-lack-birth-certificates-and-face-exclusion


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He looks very young. I can tell you he’s not over 20 years old by looking at his face

[LSandersBong]

You think he’s older? Interesting. Just because he’s from Mali? Thanks for your input btw

I'm thinking it's because Ballo started at Gonzaga in 2019 if he hadn't redshirted and didn't loose a season to covid he could of been a senior this year, otherwise being from Mali is an outdated take that there are birth certificate issues, he moved to Spain as an 11 year old lol

I think Ballos a great college player but too much of an old school big to stick in the NBA, I really like Tubelis though.

Mali doesn’t have birth certificate issues? Huh

https://reliefweb.int/report/mali/mali-148000-displaced-children-lack-birth-certificates-and-face-exclusion


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The more you know! Interesting, hope this isn't the case with Ballo

[azcatz11]

I'm thinking it's because Ballo started at Gonzaga in 2019 if he hadn't redshirted and didn't loose a season to covid he could of been a senior this year, otherwise being from Mali is an outdated take that there are birth certificate issues, he moved to Spain as an 11 year old lol

I think Ballos a great college player but too much of an old school big to stick in the NBA, I really like Tubelis though.

Mali doesn’t have birth certificate issues? Huh

https://reliefweb.int/report/mali/mali-148000-displaced-children-lack-birth-certificates-and-face-exclusion


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The more you know! Interesting, hope this isn't the case with Ballo

You need proof to accuse someone of forging birth certificates...can we stop with this please?

[LSandersBong]

Mali doesn’t have birth certificate issues? Huh

https://reliefweb.int/report/mali/mali-148000-displaced-children-lack-birth-certificates-and-face-exclusion


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The more you know! Interesting, hope this isn't the case with Ballo

You need proof to accuse someone of forging birth certificates...can we stop with this please?

I personally don't think this is at all the case with Ballo, just hoped that Ballo didn't face the sad situation for many Mali children that the article states.

It would make no sense to forge a birth certificate for a child who had never played basketball lol

[EvanZ]

It would make no sense to forge a birth certificate for a child who had never played basketball lol

Sure it does. If he didn't have a birth certificate when he moved to Spain, his family may have needed to provide one. At that point, when he was 11 he was probably already on a basketball path. I'm sure the dude was like 6'6" or whatever by then. This happens all the time.

Do you guys believe Udoka Azubuike was 20 when he graduated from Kansas? Let's get real.

Edit: You can see here Ballo was clearly a giant already at age 11.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/20221193/mali-oumar-ballo-little-shaq-lot-potential-game-nba-draft

[EvanZ]

Also, just to be clear, I'm not "accusing" Ballo of forging his birth certificate. It would likely be some combination of his parents and "handlers" at that time.

[EvanZ]

There's also enormous incentives to be "Under" some arbitrary age. U15, U19 etc. If you're 20 and can get on the U19 team it's a huge advantage, for example.

[azcatz11]

Also, just to be clear, I'm not "accusing" Ballo of forging his birth certificate. It would likely be some combination of his parents and "handlers" at that time.

You can tell by looking at him - he looks very young. He’s not 25 or what you’re trying to say here

[LSandersBong]

It would make no sense to forge a birth certificate for a child who had never played basketball lol

Sure it does. If he didn't have a birth certificate when he moved to Spain, his family may have needed to provide one. At that point, when he was 11 he was probably already on a basketball path. I'm sure the dude was like 6'6" or whatever by then. This happens all the time.

Do you guys believe Udoka Azubuike was 20 when he graduated from Kansas? Let's get real.

Edit: You can see here Ballo was clearly a giant already at age 11.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/20221193/mali-oumar-ballo-little-shaq-lot-potential-game-nba-draft

The article specifically mentions how Ballo and others had to face stringent testing to make sure they are the correct age.

Also when he moved to Spain on a basketball scholarship he had only just started training in basketball.

The only instance where I actually believe there has been legit forgery is with Thon Maker and possibly Ersan Ilyasova

[EvanZ]

Also, just to be clear, I'm not "accusing" Ballo of forging his birth certificate. It would likely be some combination of his parents and "handlers" at that time.

You can tell by looking at him - he looks very young. He’s not 25 or what you’re trying to say here

He doesn’t look that young to me but I also didn’t say he’s 25. He’s probably 21 or 22 already.


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[EvanZ]

It would make no sense to forge a birth certificate for a child who had never played basketball lol

Sure it does. If he didn't have a birth certificate when he moved to Spain, his family may have needed to provide one. At that point, when he was 11 he was probably already on a basketball path. I'm sure the dude was like 6'6" or whatever by then. This happens all the time.

Do you guys believe Udoka Azubuike was 20 when he graduated from Kansas? Let's get real.

Edit: You can see here Ballo was clearly a giant already at age 11.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/20221193/mali-oumar-ballo-little-shaq-lot-potential-game-nba-draft

The article specifically mentions how Ballo and others had to face stringent testing to make sure they are the correct age.

Also when he moved to Spain on a basketball scholarship he had only just started training in basketball.

The only instance where I actually believe there has been legit forgery is with Thon Maker and possibly Ersan Ilyasova

His parents were 6’5” and 6’8” and his brother was already 6’10” at age 15. They knew what this kid was getting into obviously. That’s 100% of the reason he went to Spain. To me it’s naive to not be at least somewhat skeptical here.

But whatever it’s just my opinion. Everyone is free to believe what they want.


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[clyde21]

Denver Jones

[EvanZ]

Read on Twitter

Currently shooting 32.6% on 3s and 63% from the line. I guess the train hasn't left the station.

[clyde21]

slightly better from last year but yea, he's a guy that you worry about his shooting for sure.

[azcatz11]

slightly better from last year but yea, he's a guy that you worry about his shooting for sure.

We were early on him! No one had him on the radar before us