ATLANTA, Ga. – UCLA freshman guard Lonzo Ball has been selected as one of 50 players nationwide to the 2017 Naismith Trophy preseason watch list, as announced Thursday by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.
 
Ball, a 6-foot-6 guard from Chino Hills, Calif., was a McDonald's All-American as a high school senior at Chino Hills High School last season, guiding his team to a 35-0 record and the CIF State Open Division Championship in California. Ball secured CIF Southern Section Open Division Player of the Year honors, in addition to being named the Naismith High School Player of the Year.
 
One of three incoming freshman at UCLA this season, Ball looks to help guide a Bruins' program that returns 10 of its contributors from last season. As a high school senior, Ball was rated the No. 4 player in the country by ESPN.com and Rivals.com. In addition, he was ranked No. 7, nationally, by Scout.com.
 
Ball is one of six Pac-12 players selected to the preseason watch list, along with Oregon's Dillon Brooks and Chris Boucher, Arizona's Lauri Markkanen, California's Ivan Rabb and Washington's Markelle Fultz.
 
The mid-season list for the 2017 Naismith Men's Trophy will be pared to 30 selections by Feb. 9, 2017.
 
UCLA, ranked No. 16 in the preseason Associated Press poll, opens the regular season against Pacific on Friday, Nov. 11. Game time is 6 p.m. (PT). UCLA's game will be televised by Pac-12 Network.

2017 Naismith Men's Trophy Preseason Watch List