LiAngelo Ball is looking to capitalize off his newfound success in the music industry … telling TMZ Sports he wants to drop a project with NBA YoungBoy!!

We caught up with the baller-turned-rapper at LAX on Thursday … just hours after Ball dropped a music video for his viral debut song, “Tweaker.”

Gelo — who signed a multimillion-dollar contract with Def Jam — has been getting looks from a ton of names in the rap game who want to work with him in the booth … but when we asked him who’s at the top of his own list, he’s got one name in mind.

Unfortunately, getting these two together in the studio won’t happen immediately … as YoungBoy is currently behind bars, but is slated to get out in a few months.

Outside of the YoungBoy collab, Gelo told us his album should be coming this spring … and he’s excited to get onstage at Rolling Loud.

As for his first love, Gelo hasn’t officially retired from basketball … and said he’ll be good to go if a team hits him up.