Suns dip into in-state pool again by selecting Arizona’s Deandre Ayton
Jun 21, 2018, 4:46 PM
Suns draft picks Deandre Ayton (2018), left, and Steve Kerr (1988), center, of Arizona, along with Mario Bennett (1995), right, out of Arizona State. (AP Photos)
(AP Photos)
It’s been a minute since the Phoenix Suns went local in the NBA Draft.
In 1996, with their second of two second-round picks, the Suns took Arizona Wildcats power forward Ben Davis with the 43rd overall selection. But before that, it was surprisingly common for Phoenix to look within the Grand Canyon State when it came to their draft picks.
Arizona center Deandre Ayton became the latest when the Suns made him the top overall selection in the 2018 NBA Draft on Thursday night. And not only did Ayton play his single season of college ball in Arizona — the Bahamian native attended Hillcrest Prep in the Valley en route to his stay in Tucson.
Here are all of the Phoenix draftees who played college hoops in Arizona.
Arizona Wildcats
Deandre Ayton, 1st overall (2018)
Ben Davis, 43rd (1996)
Anthony Cook, 24th (1989)
Steve Kerr, 50th (1988)
Al Fleming, 30th (1976)
Bill Kennedy, 140th (1972)
Bill Davis, 160th (1968)
Arizona State Sun Devils
Mario Bennett, 27th (1995)
Steve Beck, 76th (1987)
Paul Williams, 45th (1983)
Gary Jackson, 150th (1976)
Jack Schrader, 130th (1975)
Mike Moon, 163rd (1975)
Mark Wasley, 165th (1974)
Jim Owens, 128th (1973)
Gerhardus Schreur, 163rd (1970)
Bob Edwards, 100th (1969)
Grand Canyon Antelopes
Rodney Johns, 55th (1988)
Roy Singleton, 145th (1987)
Nate Stokes, 184th (1978)
Bayard Forrest, 54th (1975)
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks
Mark Stevens, 111th (1980)
Tom DeBerry, 133rd (1976)
Jim Plump, 216th (1969)
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