DeAndre Ayton...best HS player in the country?

[Eddie20]

Glowing words from Jonathan Givony (see below).

He also has outstanding measurements. In 2015, he was measured at 6-11 (without shoes), 234 lb, 7-4.5 wingspan, 9-4.5 standing reach, and a max vert of 34.5 (DeAndre Jordan had a max vert of 30.5).

DeAndre Ayton, the Bahamian 7-footer who is playing this season with Hillcrest Hoops out of Arizona, is widely considered the #1 player in the high school class of 2017, and subsequently the 2018 NBA Draft. There is a school of thought that he might be the best prospect in all of high school basketball in fact, which is saying something considering how loaded the 2016 senior class is considered to be.

An incredibly gifted 7-footer with ideal physical tools, an increasingly versatile offensive game, and tremendous overall upside, Ayton has an opportunity to solidify his standing in front of countless NBA decision-makers. That is increasingly important, as there are some question marks whether he will be eligible to compete in college in the 2017-2018 season, and he did not play up to his full potential at the Basketball Without Borders Global Camp in January where many NBA teams got their very first look at him. Ayton seemed bothered at times by the physicality of the very strong crop of international big men that he faced in Toronto, and was a step slow at times with his decision making and reaction speed. Not particularly well-coached at this stage of his career, Ayton is far more used to the loosey-goosey nature of high school and AAU basketball, where making highlights sometimes takes precedent.

Nevertheless, Ayton is an incredibly rare physical specimen with phenomenal upside as a shot-blocking, 3-point shooting, rebounding machine. He's young enough to still make up much of the ground he's lost with the roller-coaster ride he's been on the past few years since emigrating from the Bahamas, and competing in settings like this, where he'll be challenged by the coaching staff and facing elite-level competition over the course of a week, should help tremendously with his development.

[manl_lui]

but can he shoot free throws?

just kidding, will he be available next year with the Net's pick

[Eddie20]

but can he shoot free throws?

just kidding, will he be available next year with the Net's pick

Looks like he won't be eligible until 2018. Next year is the Giles draft. Hopefully, the Nets continue to suck. Having even a small chance to draft a potential franchise changer like one of these guys, is why I would refrain from including either the 17 and 18 picks in a deal, until we have more clarity on what that pick will likely be.

[gift]

He's been considered the next big thing for a while. I think he put up some big numbers in a scrimmage against UNC, last year as a high school sophomore. Hope he gets some good coaching.

[chambers]

He doesn't have any post moves yet, great footwork though.
I believe he's the youngest guy on the junior usa squad too.