Deandre Ayton

 His immense potential is obvious and nothing can really hinder that at this stage, but the most intriguing part about Ayton is that if worst comes to worst and his development is awful and he shows no improvement offensively this guy can still be a starting NBA center on a good team based off his size, rim protection, coordination and ability to hit free throws (already has a good touch)  and occasional elbow jump shot. 

 His immense potential is obvious and nothing can really hinder that at this stage, but the most intriguing part about Ayton is that if worst comes to worst and his development is awful and he shows no improvement offensively this guy can still be a starting NBA center on a good team based off his size, rim protection, coordination and ability to hit free throws (already has a good touch)  and occasional elbow jump shot. 

 It is hard for big guys to develop.  Like you say, competition isn’t always up to the challenge.  When you see the mix tapes, they are often just dunking over a bunch of 6′ 4? guys.  The attitude is another thing.  If you start believing it when people start fawing over you – and who wouldn’t at 16 – it will be hard to convince yourself to do the work you need to maximize potential.  This is why a lot of big guys end up as athletic players who protect the rim, but can’t really do much on offense.  They don’t need to practice that hard to beat the competition put in front of them.  I hope he keeps his head straight.  I would hope that for any kid, but it is hard to accomplish this when the child has so much potential.

 It is hard for big guys to develop.  Like you say, competition isn’t always up to the challenge.  When you see the mix tapes, they are often just dunking over a bunch of 6′ 4? guys.  The attitude is another thing.  If you start believing it when people start fawing over you – and who wouldn’t at 16 – it will be hard to convince yourself to do the work you need to maximize potential.  This is why a lot of big guys end up as athletic players who protect the rim, but can’t really do much on offense.  They don’t need to practice that hard to beat the competition put in front of them.  I hope he keeps his head straight.  I would hope that for any kid, but it is hard to accomplish this when the child has so much potential.

 I completly disagree with you. I do believe that he’s tied number one in that class because I love Trevon Duval and Wendell Carter game, but you have to put into context on the DeAndre Ayton situation. You have to know he been battling with a knee injury since late in his sophomore season. You also have to know that he just started to play basketball, he’s not one of these players that played all his life and already have all the skill in the game.

You can’t lump a high school kid to finished products like Dwight Howard, who is a hall of famer, and DeAndre Jordan because he can still improve and he still have a outstanding skill set. Yes, he’s not as consistent like you want, but he have an outstanding skill set and measurments. You don’t worry about consistentcy with a player with so little experience. He can hit a jump shots from 15-18 foot out, he can do work in the post, and he can be a monster on the defensive end of the court.

People worry a little too much about consistency in such young players and expect the highest level of production from these kids. He’s near 7’1" 240 pounds that can basically do it all on the court. Have some patience.

 I completly disagree with you. I do believe that he’s tied number one in that class because I love Trevon Duval and Wendell Carter game, but you have to put into context on the DeAndre Ayton situation. You have to know he been battling with a knee injury since late in his sophomore season. You also have to know that he just started to play basketball, he’s not one of these players that played all his life and already have all the skill in the game.

You can’t lump a high school kid to finished products like Dwight Howard, who is a hall of famer, and DeAndre Jordan because he can still improve and he still have a outstanding skill set. Yes, he’s not as consistent like you want, but he have an outstanding skill set and measurments. You don’t worry about consistentcy with a player with so little experience. He can hit a jump shots from 15-18 foot out, he can do work in the post, and he can be a monster on the defensive end of the court.

People worry a little too much about consistency in such young players and expect the highest level of production from these kids. He’s near 7’1" 240 pounds that can basically do it all on the court. Have some patience.

Yesterday was my first time watching him. Has he always been able to shoot? He pretty much only shot threes, I think he finished 3-7, has great rotation. Has his knee injury kept him out of the paint? I do think he’s a better prospect than Duval, but I haven’t seen Carter yet so I can’t say. I’ll get another look at him later today against Athlete Institute.

Yesterday was my first time watching him. Has he always been able to shoot? He pretty much only shot threes, I think he finished 3-7, has great rotation. Has his knee injury kept him out of the paint? I do think he’s a better prospect than Duval, but I haven’t seen Carter yet so I can’t say. I’ll get another look at him later today against Athlete Institute.

You want to see a young KG, watch Bamba in the same class. Think he’s top 10 right now. I bet he emerges as possibly the top prospect in the class over Ayton. He has almost unheard of measurables.

You want to see a young KG, watch Bamba in the same class. Think he’s top 10 right now. I bet he emerges as possibly the top prospect in the class over Ayton. He has almost unheard of measurables.

 Great player – Ayton, Bamba and Carter all look like cant-miss bigmen prospects from that class, Billy Preston isn’t far off either, and possibly Nick Richards..

With Jarred Vanderbilt, Luka Doncic, John Petty,Hamidou Diallo and Gary Trent and Michael Porter on the wing and Trevon Duval at PG, the 2018 draft is going to be really good.

Ayton is #1 at this point though. He’s the real deal and a better prospect than Blake Griffin… He’s also a legit 7′ and plenty capable of playing PF IMO. He will rebound at an extremely high rate at either PF or C.

 Great player – Ayton, Bamba and Carter all look like cant-miss bigmen prospects from that class, Billy Preston isn’t far off either, and possibly Nick Richards..

With Jarred Vanderbilt, Luka Doncic, John Petty,Hamidou Diallo and Gary Trent and Michael Porter on the wing and Trevon Duval at PG, the 2018 draft is going to be really good.

Ayton is #1 at this point though. He’s the real deal and a better prospect than Blake Griffin… He’s also a legit 7′ and plenty capable of playing PF IMO. He will rebound at an extremely high rate at either PF or C.

 Yeah I still think he’s still at the top of his class, sharing overall #1 HS prospect status with Bagley (Bagley probably surpassed him by a smidge). He’s got all the physical tools you would want from a C prospect. Length, athleticism, strong frame, coordination, etc.  He does have a tendency to relax a bit and would like to see him post more, but the true post up prospect is a rare bird.  He’ll probably be more of a face up big, but he does show a nice jumper and an ability to counter close outs.  Defensively is where he really stands out though.  As has been mentioned, unlike other touted future defensive anchors (looking and someone like Noel or WCS), he actually talks and directs the team defense.  He has true leadership qualities and smarts on that end to go along with his elite physical tools. 

 Yeah I still think he’s still at the top of his class, sharing overall #1 HS prospect status with Bagley (Bagley probably surpassed him by a smidge). He’s got all the physical tools you would want from a C prospect. Length, athleticism, strong frame, coordination, etc.  He does have a tendency to relax a bit and would like to see him post more, but the true post up prospect is a rare bird.  He’ll probably be more of a face up big, but he does show a nice jumper and an ability to counter close outs.  Defensively is where he really stands out though.  As has been mentioned, unlike other touted future defensive anchors (looking and someone like Noel or WCS), he actually talks and directs the team defense.  He has true leadership qualities and smarts on that end to go along with his elite physical tools. 

 Where do you think he’ll end up regarding college schools?

 Where do you think he’ll end up regarding college schools?

 I gotta say, I’m not blown away by ayton yet. Impressed, yes, but not blown away. If people want to be blown away, look at HS highlights of KG and Oden. Ayton definitely has the look of prospects on that level, but he doesn’t seem to be "all in" like those guys. Probably plays a bit to the level of competition like most young prospects, which is a slight concern for me. But hey, not every talent is gonna have the mindset of a all-time great. Ayton will be good. 

 I gotta say, I’m not blown away by ayton yet. Impressed, yes, but not blown away. If people want to be blown away, look at HS highlights of KG and Oden. Ayton definitely has the look of prospects on that level, but he doesn’t seem to be "all in" like those guys. Probably plays a bit to the level of competition like most young prospects, which is a slight concern for me. But hey, not every talent is gonna have the mindset of a all-time great. Ayton will be good.