Bahamian Ayton eyes top pick in NBA Draft

TOWERING Bahamian teenager DeAndre Ayton is poised to be chosen with the top pick in the NBA Draft on Thursday, with the Phoenix Suns set to snap up the 7ft centre, who compares himself to Shaquille O’Neal.

Barring a major shock, the 19-year-old Ayton is widely expected to be selected by the Suns, who finished the season propping up the Western Conference with a dismal record of 21 wins against 61 defeats, the worst record in the NBA.

Ayton, a dominant force in college basketball last season for the University of Arizona Wildcats, is seen as the closest thing the draft gets to a sure thing.

The t e e n has a l re a dy impressed the Suns during a workout, with general manager Ryan McDonough describing the youngster as a rare but raw talent.

“I think this is my 16th draft in the NBA and you could probably count on one hand the number of guys with his size, athleticism, footwork, balance, touch,” McDonough told The Los Angeles Times.

“It’s a unique package. The fact that he hasn’t been playing the game all that long makes it all the more impressive,” McDonough added.

Ayton, who turns 20 next month, is certain that he’ll be the first pick in the annual selection of top college talent by NBA teams. “I know I’m going No1,” Ayton told a press conference earlier this month.

Bagley out ‘to be the best’

Standing at 7 foot (2.13m) tall and weighing in at 260lb (117kg), Ayton has earned comparisons to Los Angeles Lakers legend O’Neal – and he is happy to measure himself against the four-time Finals champion.

However, Duke University big man Marvin Bagley, who is expected to be one of the top three picks, believes he should be above Ayton in the pecking order.

“People could take it how they want, but I know DeAndre, we’re both competitive. But at the end of the day we both play this game to be the best,” Bagley told Sports Illustrated this week. “So no, I don’t think [Ayton] should be drafted before me.”

Elsewhere on Thursday, Slovenian point guard Luka Doncic is expected to feature prominently after declaring himself available for selection. The 19-year-old point guard headed to New York just days after sealing the Spanish league championship with Real Madrid.

Doncic is projected to go with the fourth pick of the draft, with the Memphis Grizzlies tipped to snap up the talented youngster.