BrandonClayScouting.com: Player Card – DeAndre Ayton

Class of 2017 post Deandre Ayton of Hillcrest Prep (AZ) is a projected lottery pick in the 2018 draft class. (Photo by Jon Lopez)

With over 20,000 collective followers on our team’s social media outlets, we’re in a unique position to assist with both creating awareness of a prospect’s skill set and recent on-floor performance. From crisp recruiting updates to updated in-season stats to a potential last-minute change in schedule that needs to be conveyed socially, this package allows the player to control the information available to the public about their game.

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(Photo by Jon Lopez)

DeAndre Ayton (San Diego, Calif.), Hillcrest Prep – 2017
Height: 7′
Position: Power Forward
Committed College: Arizona
Star Grade:

 By: @JLHemingwayPSB & @BrandonClayPSB

Date: May 29, 2016
Evaluator: Jonathan Hemingway
Location: Nike Boys EYBL Session IV (Atlanta, GA)

Ayton is a special talent physically. However, his skill level makes him one of the best players we will see in a 4-5 year span. He can hit the pick and pop jumper while also being able to contain point guards in ball screen defense. He patrols the paint to block shots yet he can also finish in transition off the move. His 20 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks per game are evidence of where he is at as a prospect.

Date: May 29, 2016
Evaluator: Brandon Clay
Location: Nike Boys EYBL Session IV (Atlanta, GA)

Ayton projects as a potential No. 1 selection in the 2018 NBA Draft. He contests shots out to the arc, is a physical specimen at his age and can already shoot the face up jumper out to 17 feet with consistent touch. His EYBL numers are staggering: 19.5 points, 11.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per through 16 EYBL games. He’s shooting 82 percent from the field and 60 from the field.

Date: June 18, 2015
Evaluator: Brandon Clay
Location: NBPA Top 100 (Charlottesville, Va.)

Ayton has the length to play either post position. That said, I see him more as a power forward in his style of play. He is a long, athletic option who blocked Zach Collins (NV-16) on the inside. Ayton hit a couple of 15 foot jumpers here as well.

Date: January 19, 2015
Evaluator: Shun Williams
Location: Flying to the Hoop (Dayton, Ohio)

Ayton is a long, agile and very athletic. He runs the floor like a small forward. Ayton is explosive around the basket where he dunks drop off passes created by guard penetration. Ayton has excellent skill and touch as well. He can shoot the jump hook or turn around in the post with either hand as he elevates over defenders with ease. He has a nice game facing the basket as he showed the ability to get to the basket from the high post or short corner as well as the ability to knock down the jumper. Ayton was also great rebounding on the defensive end of the floor and advancing the ball.

Date: December 22, 2014
Evaluator: Brandon Clay
Location: City of Palms Classic (Fort Myers, Fla.)

Ayton is a powerful option at the center position. As Jon alluded to below, he is both a rim protector and a skilled yet athletic post player too. In this eval, Ayton finished with three blocked shots and 12 points on 4-for-7 FGA’s. On one possession, he caught the ball with his back to the basket, reversed pivoted then attacked two defenders for the finish.

Date: July 17, 2014
Evaluator: Jonathan Hemingway
Location: Nike Peach Jam (North Augusta, S.C.)

DeAndre is a talented young post player with length and athleticism. He ran the floor and finished on the break terrifically with alley oop finishes. He has the footwork to be a back to the basket post scorer but has the athleticism to be a great rebounder. He alters shots on the defensive end.

Watch Ayton on SUV tv at the Flyin’ to the Hoop Invitational

Media Exposure / Showcase Opportunities

Brandon Clay is the Executive Camp Director of the Elite Basketball Academy and the owner of Brandon Clay Scouting. Clay is also the owner of Peach State Basketball, Inc., and serves on the Naismith Trophy Men’s / Women’s College Player of the Year Academy and the HS Boys / Girls All-American Team Board of Selectors. He is also the Director of Scouting for the OTRHoopsReport.com National Scouting Report. Clay has been involved in the community since 2001. You can reach him at [email protected]
Jonathan Hemingway is a National Evaluator for the OTRHoopsReport. Hemingway serves on the Board of Selectors for the Naismith Trophy. also He is also the publisher of CoachHemi.com. He has been involved in the community since 1996 as a coach, camp director and evaluator. You can reach him via email at [email protected] and follow him on  twitter @JLHemingwayPSB