SCOTTSDALE — It was just past 11 p.m. Friday when the lights went out at the Chaparral High School gym.
DeAndre Ayton sat down for 30 seconds or so until the outage ended. It was a brief moment of obscurity for the country’s No. 1 recruit in 2017 and the jewel of Sean Miller’s next recruiting class.
Ayton rarely goes unnoticed. That comes when you’re 7-foot-1 and the most recognizable high school basketball player in the nation.
Even during a weekend of stars, Ayton stood out. The HoopHall West tournament stands were packed by the time future Arizona guard Alex Barcello took the floor for Tempe’s Corona del Sol High School.
Fans stayed to watch LaMelo and LiAngelo Ball, the brothers of UCLA star guard Lonzo Ball, future Bruins themselves. Others were there for Barcello and his teammate, Vanderbilt-bound guard Saben Lee.
But most were there for Ayton, the Phoenix Hillcrest Academy star.
By the time Ayton took the floor, Barcello had already retreated home to rest up for a Saturday game, unable to watch his future teammate.
If all goes according to plan, the two will have plenty of chances to bond in Tucson next season.
Barcello lit up at the prospect. He even giggled.
“I’m very excited,” he said. “I’m very excited.”
Once in a generation
Miller has never coached a player with Ayton’s skill set; few have. He’s 7-1, with the shooting ability of a guard, athleticism of a forward with the shot-blocking ability and strength of a center.
Miller recently called him a “once-in-a-generation” talent.
It’s a marvel to watch him, and to watch those watching him.
Mike Schmitz of Draft Express flew in from Los Angeles for the night to watch Ayton, projected as the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. Schmitz marveled at Ayton’s form during a free throw attempt, tweeting out a slow-motion video from his phone.
One of the Division I coaches in the stands on Friday night loudly proclaimed Ayton to be a “stud.” On a follow-up, the coach was asked if he’d ever seen a 7-footer who could move quite like Ayton.
Long pause.
“Dirk,” he said.
That would be Dirk Nowitzki, the revolutionary NBA superstar and 7-footer with range out to the 3-point line. The NBA’s infatuation with “stretch-four” players — forwards who can shoot — is one of the reasons why UA forward Lauri Markkanen is considered a hot commodity.
Ayton is a stretch-five.
At one point late in Hillcrest Prep’s game against Westbury (Texas) Christian on Friday night, Ayton grabbed a rebound, dribbled the ball up the court, drove through the lane to the basket, drawing in multiple defenders, and promptly skip-passed the ball to the other side of the 3-point line. His teammate missed the jumper, Ayton corralled the rebound, missed a putback attempt, rebounded his miss, dunked the ball and was fouled.
Ayton finished with a line of 20 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and three blocks. It was a positive step for a player who just returned to the United States after an extended hiatus in the Bahamas (box at left).
“I think I played all right,” he said. “I could’ve knocked down a lot more 3-pointers; coach was saying to go down low.
“But, you know, that’s life. That’s life. I think I got stronger down low, especially getting triple-teamed by everybody, but I got the job done.”
Miller has never coached a player quite like Ayton. He’s never had a character quite like him either.
A big character
When Ayton wasn’t running, dunking and shooting on Friday, he was talking.
To himself, on the court between plays. To fans, from the bench. To his teammates, whether he was barking instructions or encouragement.
The big man roared when a teammate converted a late-game dunk and howled with laughter when a television reporter made a crack about his choice of shoes.
Thankfully for UA fans, Ayton follows his words with actions.
Ayton signed his national letter of intent last month, easing the minds of many who feared a last-second flip. Some still fear that he’ll take his talents overseas. UA commit Terrence Ferguson signed with an Australian club last summer amid concerns about his high school transcript. The one-year deal pays him in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Ayton said he doesn’t hear “that little rumor” since signing his letter of intent.
He says he’s too overwhelmed by the love shown from UA fans.
“A lot more people know about me,” he said. “It’s a lot more love, and it’s helping me keep going, it’s my motivation.”
So, DeAndre, any plans to visit McKale Center again this season?
“Yeah,” Ayton said with a smile. “If they have any home games.”
Ayton’s quirks are evident, his talent undeniable, his prospects prodigious.
A cluster of fans stuck around until the end of Friday’s game. As midnight neared, the big man posed for pictures and signed autographs.
On his way out of the Chaparral gym, Ayton was asked how it felt to be back with his teammates after the extended Bahamian hiatus.
“Wooo!,” he bellowed. “I couldn’t wait.”
Arizona can’t, either.
