Deandre Ayton is here to revitalize the center position in the NBA

They tried to say the center position is dead. If it is, Deandre Ayton is bringing the big man back to life. What began with Joel Embiid’s dominance as a rookie will be continued by Ayton, a talented, versatile big man out of Arizona from the Bahamas.

Ayton averaged 20 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks as a freshman. He shot 61 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from three. In a league that emphasizes versatility over everything, the Arizona product projects to seamlessly transition to the next level offensively. His defense has been the biggest question mark, and that distinction is what could separate a Jahlil Okafor-type career from one like Embiid’s.

But it’s possible we’re looking at the best overall player in the 2018 NBA Draft, and the Phoenix Suns have to be thrilled the ping-pong balls afforded them the No. 1 overall pick used to take him.

Ayton has an incredible back-to-the-basket game and has proven he can face up and either knock down a jump shot or blow by his man. If he extends his stroke out to NBA three-point range, he can be a building block for a Suns’ offense that can spread five-out at any time.

Every NBA draft pick has its drawbacks, and Ayton’s defense and rebounding are not minor. He will have to improve on those areas if he wants to have staying power, and not fade out like Anthony Bennett.

But Phoenix has landed the talent it hopes can take the team to new heights. With Ayton, Josh Jackson and Devin Booker, the Suns have as good a youth trio as you’ll find in the NBA. Whether it works out long-term remains to be seen.

Deandre Ayton is the best prospect on Earth, so why is only one school recruiting him?
By Ricky O’Donnell, April 25, 2016

There is no amateur basketball player in the world quite like Ayton, a 7’ center from the Bahamas with the grace of a wing, a promising shooting stroke and a nearly 7’6 wingspan. He’s the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2017 and has been considered the best long-term prospect in high school basketball since the summer heading into his sophomore year.

He idolizes Hakeem Olajuwon, insists he wants to play small forward at the next level and is capable of putting up comic book stat lines like the 52 points, 33 rebounds, and 10 blocks he posted against Sunrise Christian earlier this year.

Everyone agrees Ayton is already a special player with limitless potential. Which raises the question: Why is there only one school recruiting him right now?

How Deandre Ayton’s defense could turn from a weakness to a strength
By Matt Ellentuck, June 13, 2018

Before anyone can evaluate how Ayton defended at the college level, it’s important to understand that he wasn’t put in the best position to succeed. Similar to Michigan State’s Jaren Jackson, Jr., another high-lottery pick-to be under Tom Izzo, Ayton had to sacrifice his ideal fit at the 5 for the better of his Wildcats team.

That meant playing a power forward position that required never-been-flexed muscles and a different outlook of the game from a defensive perspective. He also dealt with eligibility allegations and the temporary suspensions of his head coach, Sean Miller, and co-star Allonzo Trier.

Nothing was ideal about Ayton’s only college season.

Sense of closure surrounds Deandre Ayton’s predraft workout
By Evan Sidery, Bright Side of the Sun, June 7, 2018

The Suns’ scripted workout for Ayton showed off his tremendous versatility and ability to switch-and-slide with great foot speed to cover switches all over the floor. Also, with a reported 42-inch vertical on top of his massive frame, McDonough mentioned there were plenty of finishing opportunities above the rim via lobs as well.

For going against just air, it seemed like the workout went perfectly to plan for both Ayton and the Suns.

“Not in a bad way,” McDonough said of anything new in workout saw. “I think the way he shot the ball was pretty impressive. There aren’t that many guys at 7’1 with his length and strength who can step away from the basket and make shots. He did it some at Arizona, but that wasn’t his role, we didn’t get to see him on the perimeter a whole lot. Today, he shot the NBA three pretty comfortably. He got some shots up last night, so we saw him shoot there. He has a really good form, good touch, good rotation on the ball for a guy that size especially. That was a little bit unique. I mean we knew he was big and strong and athletic and moved well at that size, had good length, great hands but to see him make shot after shot in a workout — in different scenarios, it wasn’t just catch-and-shoot shooting. We put him in pick-and-roll scenarios. We would have him on the move some. Some relocation off pick-and-roll, things like that. And he shot the ball very well.”

Deandre Ayton ‘phenomenal’ in workout with Suns
By Ryan Kelapire, AZ Desert Swarm, June 6, 2018

“We saw him finish a lot around the basket and then we put him in mid-range, and then out to the NBA 3 offensively,” McDonough said.

“Defensively, we put him in some different pick-and-roll coverage situations and saw how he guarded the pick-and-roll, how he moved his feet in different ways.

“In terms of finishing, we did a lot of lobs and things above the rim which, as you can imagine, he did really well with that. He’s uniquely gifted with that size and length and athleticism and he’s got great hands.”