Metta World Peace’s son Ron Artest III opening eyes at The Drew League

Metta World Peace may have played his last game with the Los Angeles Lakers, but he has a protegé’ in his son Ron Artest III who he is coaching this summer in The Drew League.

Metta World Peace may be in the final stage of his basketball career, but his name could be carried on by his son. Beverly Hills High School senior forward Ron Artest III (Class of 2017) is starting to generate noise in The Drew League after just two weeks of play. This summer is going to be crucial to help get him to the next level.

Artest III can actually look his father directly in the eyes because he is as tall as his dad Peace, standing at 6-foot-7. Nevermind that he is probably still growing. Although dad outweighs his son at 249 vs. 215 pounds, Peace was an inch shorter and ten pounds lighter when he left St. John’s University after his junior year.

Artest III wears the number 15 proudly on his jersey’s both at Beverly Hills High School and in The Drew League. Peace wore the number 15 when he entered the NBA playing for Chicago, then the Pacers, and finally for a stint on the Lakers.

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One thing is for sure when you see Ron Artest III, you know he is Metta’s son. The two look very much alike, and both have that same beautiful smile.

There’s been a tremendous amount of buzz lately on social media about Shaquille O’Neal’s son Shareef O’Neal after he was the first recruit in the class of 2018 to commit to Sean Miller for the Arizona Wildcats. And that is with due cause, O’Neal is coming into his own making one highlight reel after another.

O’Neal and Artest played against each other in high school, but the two are pretty close friends as well. Both are sons of Lakers Legends, and that takes astute young men who already live in luxury and still find the drive to succeed on their own. Both have strong family ties and are not shy about playing or being in the public eye. This gives Ron a leg up on competition, he’s already weathered fan scrutiny and has been a student of the game of basketball since he can remember.

Artest is not a stranger to The Drew League. He played last summer as well. In The Drew, a player competes against NBA players, International players, American players who are employed overseas, hungry post college grad players dying to play on the next level and high school players.

In week one, The Panda’s, Metta and Ron’s team, took on the Clozers, a team of mostly high school grads including Arizona’s Ira Lee and Oregon State’s Ethan Thompson. The Panda’s lost that game, but Artest made a huge sideways dunk almost flat-footed getting about two feet above the rim. It. Brought. The. House. Down! It took the fans out of their seat, and huge congrats from dad.

Last weekend, the Panda’s took on the New Edition, made up mostly of older players (not high school level let’s just say). Artest dominated in that game, and his play actually seemed to lift Metta’s play who still seems like a linebacker on the court, playing his defensive game and shooting his famous three’s. You can see the pride on Peace’s face when his son makes a big play, and it warms my heart.

Must Read: More On Metta World Peace At LSL

Although Artest missed a few free-throws in the final minutes, he did make his last free-throw, and his rebounding and defense along with his offensive speed and agility won The Panda’s the game. Artest was truly a man among men, and if you weren’t aware, you would have never assumed that he was high school senior.

Here are the highlights, watch Artest III bring home the game, in the end, coast to coast layup and a putback dunk.

Anyone evaluating Artest should not just look at his defensive style. He has more offense and is working on shooting more from the outside instead of driving to the basket where he can score with ease. The two have different playing styles, but that should not count against the younger Artest.

“Good work ethic, terrific personality, NO FEAR! His potential is truly unlimited.” Artest’s Beverly Hills HS Coach Neal Hyams

This is a key summer for Artest looking to qualify to play on the next level. Even though many colleges have cemented their 2017 class, there are always several positions still open before the season starts. Also, there are usually several walk-on spots available on big named teams to help the starters practice and work out. This is one way Artest can shine and compete.

We spoke to one of his high school coaches, Neal Hyams, to get his advice on words that come to mind when thinking of Artest, “Good work ethic, terrific personality, NO FEAR! His potential is truly unlimited. It just will come down to what he wants out of the game of life.”

I was able to talk to Ron after the big win last weekend while covering The Drew for In The Front Row, and I would say the word ‘chill’ and ‘humble’ come to mind. He is an entirely different person on the court where he is intense and all business. Here’s the interview after the game:

According to Leader Johnson, Artest III told him that he patterns his game off his dad but “There is no other player like him in the league.” When it comes to a player he would like to emulate he shoots for the moon, he strives to  be, “A smarter LeBron with more moves.”

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You think that is a bold statement? Come down to Compton and catch him in The Drew League and you will see how bold his game is. At the Lake Show Life, we wish him much success in whatever he ends up doing, and we will plan on seeing Ron Artest III play at the next level.