This story originally appeared in the Oct. 17, 2016, issue of Sports Illustrated. Subscribe to the magazine here.
As UCLA gathers for its sixth practice of the year, a midafternoon workout on Oct. 7, Lonzo Ball relaxes on a courtside folding chair. His black Beats Pill speaker occupies the seat to his right. The most intriguing freshman in college basketball pulls out his phone and scrolls to a song that fits his mood. Seconds later, he’s on his feet lip-synching to Travis Scott’s “Serenade.” Ball shakes his head while he mouths the lyrics to teammates lounging nearby, then wheels and almost blindly drains a three-pointer from the corner.