NEW YORK — During his official predraft media interview today, Deandre Ayton spoke about all things Bahamian: Mychal Thompson, soccer, track and field, you name it.
“Oh yeah, I’m pretty fast,” Ayton said of his track ability. “That’s in the blood. We’re pretty fast. We’re very athletic people.”
But Ayton also reserved a soft spot for his adopted home of Arizona, the two years he spent at Phoenix Hillcrest Prep and last season in Tucson.
“Definitely I’ve made it my second home,” Ayton said. “My family and everybody adapted to this type of life and they are enjoying it. They don’t want to leave.”
They won’t have to, most likely. Ayton is widely expected to be taken with the No. 1 pick by the Phoenix Suns on Thursday.
NBA Draft prospect Deandre Ayton, who may be the Suns' choice with the No. 1 overall pick in this month's NBA draft, talks to the media after a workout in Phoenix earlier this month.
That will have him playing pro ball just about 110 miles away from where Ayton found a strong support system while playing for the Wildcats, even on that dark Feb. 24 day when he found himself booed and jeered at by Oregon fans following an ESPN report the night before that said UA coach Sean Miller discussed a pay-for-play scheme involving Ayton.
“Most definitely the fans saw my love for the game and how focused I was for that game,” said Ayton, who had 28 points and 18 rebounds in UA’s overtime loss to the Ducks. “I just think the fans really had my back. Arizona fans really had my back. They really held it in for me and when they found out (the report) was false, they really showed their appreciation.”
When asked if he had a message for UA fans, Ayton said simply “I love you guys.”
Ayton spoke for only 13 minutes of an allotted 30-minute block, apparently because he was booked pretty heavily with other demands. But he made it clear repeatedly that he would be proud to be the first No. 1 pick from the Bahamas since Portland took Thompson No. 1 in 1978.
“It would be a big blessing,” Ayton said. “Having that chip on your shoulder and carrying a nation behind me. It’s a huge opportunity to show that Bahamian people, we’re not just a country of just track and field athletes. Watching Buddy Hield, Tum Tum (Nairn), they’re responding too. It’s huge to be part of that.”