LaMelo Ball Donates 100 Scholarships to Students at Vernon Middle School

Charlotte Hornets rookie LaMelo Ball is partnering with education platform Yellowbrick and CloseUp360 to create two online courses focusing on Sneaker Essentials and Streetwear Essentials.

The lessons were created with input from Complex, FIT and Parsons and mark a foray into education for the young NBA star. Additionally, Ball is providing access to the two courses for 100 students at Vernon Middle School in California, where his mother worked as a teacher and athletic director for more than two decades.

"I'm excited about the 100 Yellowbrick scholarships for Vernon Middle School that we're going to be giving out on behalf of my mama," Ball said in a statement. "She was my teacher, I would say, just for life—helping me be a good person, who I am today, just how to treat people, how to be."

Ball's mother, Tina, left teaching after suffering a stroke in 2017.

The No. 3 overall pick in November's draft is also providing a 20 percent discount on the courses for those outside Vernon Middle School.

"LaMelo is known worldwide for his determination, talent, work ethic, and curiosity," Yellowbrick vice president of partnerships Dion Walcott said. "We're thrilled that he's working with us to instill some of that same passion in another generation of learners who are intent on pursuing their dreams—just like he has."