Arizona’s Deandre Ayton: “I know I’m going No. 1” in 2018 NBA Draft

Deandre Ayton with Arizona Wildcats in 2018
Deandre Ayton with the Arizona Wildcats in 2018. Photo by Derek Regensburger/CSM/REX/Shutterstock

Arizona’s center Deandre Ayton isn’t just a talented basketball player, but also a confident young man. The 19-year-old told reporters on Wednesday that he already knows he will be the number one pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.

I know I’m going No. 1,” – Ayton told reporters after a pre-draft workout with the Phoenix Suns, the team who has the first overall pick.

Although Suns didn’t promise Deandre Ayton that they will use their No.1 pick on him, he is so confident in his game that he already thinks it is a done deal. This is why he won’t attend pre-draft workouts for any other team.

Deandre Ayton was born in the Bahamas but moved to Phoenix, Arizona when he was a high school student. By 2017, he established himself as one of top five prospects in the nation and decided to attend University of Arizona. During his freshman season as Arizona Wildcats player, Ayton averaged 20.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.9 points per game.

Everybody knows us now,” – said Ayton. “This is our second home, so we just feel welcome, and it would be a blessing if I become the No. 1 pick and stay here and make this home.

It looks like the Suns wouldn’t have anything against making Ayton number one overall pick as well since they liked what they saw at Wednesday’s workout.

It was everything that we expected form Deandre,” – said Suns general manager Ryan McDonough. “Obviously, we’ve watched him closely at Arizona and we’ve scouted him heavily in person in games, at practice, and on film. He showed us what we expected to see.

Gunner's favorite movies are Pulp Fiction, Iron Man (just the first one), and every James Bond film ever made. He's learning TV and cinema and hoping to always enjoy movies as he does now.