DeAndre Ayton

Bahamian-American basketball center who was the first overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft after a dominant freshman season at the University of Arizona.

DeAndre Ayton was born in Nassau, Bahamas in 1998. He attended the University of Arizona for one season and produced the finest individual freshman campaign in Pac-12 history. He averaged 20.1 points and 11.6 rebounds per game — only the second player in Pac-12 history to average 20 and 11 in the same season. He was the Pac-12 Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year and a consensus All-American. His combination of size — 7 feet, 250 pounds — with exceptional footwork, shooting touch and athleticism created an unprecedented physical profile for a college center. Phoenix Suns selected him first overall in the 2018 NBA Draft. His one Arizona season — despite the Wildcats losing in the second round of the tournament — was so individually dominant that it was sufficient to make him the consensus number one prospect. His professional career produced an NBA championship appearance with Phoenix in 2021, though he was famously benched in the deciding game. His Arizona season remains the most individually impressive freshman campaign at a Pac-12 programme in modern college basketball history.

Ayton is a dominant interior presence with exceptional size, standing 7-foot-1 with a strong frame and impressive athleticism for his size. He excels in the paint with soft touch around the rim, strong rebounding ability on both ends, and the mobility to run the floor effectively.

Ayton helped elevate the profile of Bahamian basketball and demonstrated the potential for international big men in modern college basketball.

• Pac-12 Player of Year
• Pac-12 Freshman of Year
• All-American
• First overall pick 2018