Suns select Arizona’s Deandre Ayton with first overall pick in NBA Draft

After all the debate, speculation and insight, the Chosen Sun is here.

With the first pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, the Phoenix Suns on Thursday selected Deandre Ayton out of Arizona.

“This is a historic day for the Phoenix Suns franchise,” said general manager Ryan McDonough in a statement. “Deandre is a special player and we are thrilled to welcome him home to Phoenix. It is extremely rare for a player with his size, length and athleticism to be able to not only finish around the rim but also step away from the basket and make shots. At 7-1 and exceptionally strong, he is uniquely gifted with his hand-eye coordination and footwork. In addition, he has strong ties to this area and we can’t wait to see him in a Suns uniform.”

Ayton, who has been linked to the Suns since the team won the NBA Draft Lottery, is the first Wildcat to ever be taken first overall. He’s the first player taken out of an in-state university by the Suns since Arizona’s Ben Davis was the 43rd overall pick by Phoenix in 1996.

“It means a lot to me because you know the fans out there are amazing — they’re the best fans in the world,” said Ayton on ESPN’s broadcast. “I’m really happy to be a part of the Phoenix Suns now and we can really start a winning legacy with Devin Booker and Josh Jackson and all those other guys. We’re a young team and we’re ready. I’m just happy to be a Phoenix Sun.”

The selection may come as little to no surprise to Suns fans, as Ayton called himself the No. 1 pick following a June 6 workout with the team. He also said his workout in Phoenix was his first and only formal meeting with a team prior to the draft.

“Nobody told me (I’ll go first),” Ayton said following his workout at Talking Stick Resort Arena. “That’s just me. I think I deserve that. I’ve worked hard. I won’t say I’m the best player. I won’t say that.

“I will say on the competitive level, I’m the best competitor.”

For the Suns, Ayton fills a glaring short-term and long-term hole as a interior presence at center. Veteran Tyson Chandler is in place to serve as Ayton’s mentor, Alex Len — the No. 5 overall pick in 2013 — is an unrestricted free agent and Alan Williams has a non-guaranteed contract for the 2018-19 season.

A native from the Bahamas, Ayton arrived in the states when he was 12 years old, competing in AAU basketball in San Diego.

Ayton attended Hillcrest Prep in Phoenix after his mother moved to the Valley. A top recruit out of high school, Ayton then committed to Arizona, where he became the Pac-12 Player and Freshman of the Year in his only season after he averaged 20.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.

Ayton performed well despite being named in an ESPN report that linked Wildcats head coach Sean Miller to an FBI-recorded wiretap where Miller allegedly discussed impermissible payments to secure Ayton’s commitment to the school. That report was denied by Miller, Ayton and the school, and Ayton didn’t miss any playing time because of the allegation.

He has been training in the Phoenix area since leaving Tucson. In a late March interview with CBS Sports Radio’s Tiki and Tierney, Ayton said he could see himself playing for the Suns and forming a duo with shooting guard Devin Booker.

“Honestly, for my mother, I could see myself in Phoenix,” he said. “I could see a little Shaq and Kobe 2.0.”

To make things even sweeter, members of the Suns are already familiar with the big man.

Following his workout, Ayton watched the NBA Finals with Booker and Josh Jackson, among other Suns.

But that’s not all.

Suns veteran Jared Dudley has followed Ayton since he was a sophomore in high school with Ayton attended Dudley’s basketball camps in San Diego.

“This is a guy with a unique skillset. When he was in high school in San Diego before Arizona he went to my basketball camp,” said Dudley on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s Doug & Wolf on June 7. “He was the MVP of my basketball camp for two years. I knew he was a one-and-done when he was a sophomore and he was dunking on every kid.”

Next up for the Suns is pick No. 16, followed by pick Nos. 31 and 59.

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