The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

WHEN Bahamian basketball prodigy DeAndre Ayton made the decision to transfer to Hillcrest Academy in Phoenix, Arizona, he was expected to help the budding programme become a powerhouse.

Paired with another highly touted recruit, Marvin Bagley III, the duo paid immediate dividends on the programme as they have dominated in a pair of exhibition games thus far and have shifted the team into the national exposure.

Just days after the decision was made, Hillcrest took on junior college powerhouse Phoenix College. Ayton finished with 30 points and 23 rebounds in the contest.

Hillcrest trailed by 17 with just under seven minutes to play in regulation before Ayton and Bagley fuelled the comeback.

Phoenix College is the 2014 NJCAA Division II national champion, and finished third in the nation in the 2015 season.

In game two, they defeated Pima College, 97-88.

Both Ayton and Bagley once again scored 30 points apiece.

In an interview with Richard Obert of AZCentral Sports following the game, Ayton spoke on his transition to the new school and playing with a high profile player like Bagley.

“It’s pretty chill,” Ayton said. “You feel free as a player. You’re having fun. I love the competitiveness and the talent here. Everybody works hard.”

Backed by Ayton and Bagley III, Hillcrest Hoops will have a national schedule where they will receive maximum exposure tested against perennial powerhouses Huntington Prep and Oak Hill Academy and will also appear live on ESPN.

They have received invites to the Hoophall West Classic against two out-of-state national powers at Scottsdale Chaparral High. They will also face the Athlete Institute, out of Canada, January 16 in Springfield, Massachusettes, in a game televised live on ESPN.

Ayton, the top ranked player in the ESPN 60 for the class of 2017, and Bagley III - the top ranked player in the class of 2018 - immediately made Hillcrest Hoops a dominant powerhouse.

Ayton previously attended the Balboa City School in San Diego, California, since he left the Bahamas just over three years ago to complete his education and compete against better basketball talent.

At Balboa City, he rose to national prominence and was evaluated as one of the top ranked players in his class by ESPN, Scout, Rivals and several other recruiting services.

In his inaugural season at the varsity level, Ayton averaged 21.1 points, 16 rebounds and 3.8 blocked shots per game. He went on to finish with double doubles in 21 of his 22 regular season games.

Bagley, a 6’11” forward, also left his previous prep school - Tempe Corona Del Sol - to join his father, Marvin Jr, who is now an associate head coach at Hillcrest Hoops.

In his freshman season, he led Corona Del Sol to a fourth consecutive Division I basketball title and averaged 19.6 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 2.3 assists.

Marcus Bagley, a 6’ 5” eighth grader, will also join his older brother in playing for father in the first national season for the Hillcrest programme.

Thus far, Ayton has received official offers from the University of Kentucky, the University of Arizona and San Diego State University. He is considered the top high school player in the United States, irrespective of class, despite the fact that he will enter the 11th grade this fall.

This summer, Ayton was one of 24 players named to the roster to compete at the Under Armour Elite 24 All-Star Game in Brooklyn, New York.

The Under-Armour Elite 24 has quickly become one of the premier events during the summer as the bidding war between major shoe companies heats up in an attempt to claim top college prospects and was televised live on ESPN.