The Arizona Wildcats landed a stunning commitment today from center DeAndre Ayton, the top-rated player in the class of 2017.
A native of the Bahamas who now plays for Phoenix Hillcrest Prep, Ayton announced his decision on ESPN today with little advance notice, choosing the Wildcats over Kansas and Kentucky.
"I was just ready to become a Wildcat," Ayton told the Star after his announcement. "I didn’t want to make too many dramas."
Ayton also said he was impressed with the history and fans of Arizona, as well as coach Sean Miller's intensity.
"I just like Sean Miller. He's a hungry coach," Ayton said. "He wants to win every game. I think he knows my style of play. I see his energy and hopefully I can step in there."
Highly targeted by Arizona since he was a freshman in high school in San Diego, Ayton was so well-known on the recruiting circuit that he didn't play during the final weekend of the July showcase season.
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While Ayton's talent has drawn speculation that he might skip college to turn professional, he said he decided to play college ball for a year before turning pro. Highly regarded for his size and athleticism, Ayton is already forecast as the No. 1 pick of the 2018 NBA Draft.
"My family and I all came together and said 'College is a must,'" Ayton said. "If you know me I want to go to college and get that experience."
