Phoenix Suns take DeAndre Ayton No. 1 overall in the draft
Phoenix Suns take DeAndre Ayton No. 1 overall in the draft
After nearly a month of knowing the franchise holds the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft, the Phoenix Suns finally get to use it.
After nearly a month of knowing the franchise holds the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft, the Phoenix Suns finally get to use it.
For the first time in franchise history, the Phoenix Suns were able to use a No. 1 overall draft pick — selecting University of Arizona big man DeAndre Ayton during Thursday night’s NBA Draft.
Ayton, 20, will step in right away and fill the big man void the Suns have been struggling to fill since the days of A’mare Stoudamire nearly a decade ago.
“I know I’m going No. 1.” Ayton told the media following his only NBA workout with Phoenix on June 6.
“It means the world to me [going No. 1 overall], my family, and coaches. They know the hard work I put into this game,” Ayton said on the ESPN broadcast.
The Bahamian-born 7-footer is familiar with the Arizona desert after playing his junior and senior seasons of high school basketball at Hillcrest Prep Academy in Phoenix.
He teamed up with Sacramento Kings No. 2 overall pick, Marvin Bagley III, during his junior year at Hillcrest Prep Academy, where both players continued to gain national attention.
Ayton stuck around in Arizona, committing to the University of Arizona to play for coach Sean Miler, where he averaged 20.1 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in nearly 34 minutes a game.
He shot 61 percent from the floor, 73 percent from the free throw line, and 34 percent from three-point range.
For the first time in franchise history, the Phoenix Suns were able to use a No. 1 overall draft pick — selecting University of Arizona big man DeAndre Ayton during Thursday night’s NBA Draft.
Ayton, 20, will step in right away and fill the big man void the Suns have been struggling to fill since the days of A’mare Stoudamire nearly a decade ago.
“I know I’m going No. 1.” Ayton told the media following his only NBA workout with Phoenix on June 6.
“It means the world to me [going No. 1 overall], my family, and coaches. They know the hard work I put into this game,” Ayton said on the ESPN broadcast.
The Bahamian-born 7-footer is familiar with the Arizona desert after playing his junior and senior seasons of high school basketball at Hillcrest Prep Academy in Phoenix.
He teamed up with Sacramento Kings No. 2 overall pick, Marvin Bagley III, during his junior year at Hillcrest Prep Academy, where both players continued to gain national attention.
Ayton stuck around in Arizona, committing to the University of Arizona to play for coach Sean Miler, where he averaged 20.1 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in nearly 34 minutes a game.
He shot 61 percent from the floor, 73 percent from the free throw line, and 34 percent from three-point range.