The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

BASKETBALL prep superstar DeAndre Ayton took advantage of another opportunity to showcase his skillset against other elite prospects headed for NCAA basketball in the fall.

Ayton finished with 19 points and eight rebounds in the 16th edition of the Jordan Brand Classic boys national title game, hosted April 14 at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Ayton helped lead the West to a 124-116 win over the East with six points down the stretch in a crucial run.

“The game finally got to me,” Ayton told USA Today. “Dudes started passing and we started playing as a team in the second half. In the second half, we told the guards, if you want to show scouts you can play, this is what you’ve got to do, feed the bigs.”

The East led 63-56 at the half and Ayton posted nine points and seven rebounds at intermission.

The Jordan Brand Classic is a high school All-Star basketball game played annually in April. The game’s rosters feature the best and most highly recruited high school boys in the senior class including alums like Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, Blake Griffin, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant.

The game takes its name from the chief organiser, Jordan Brand, a division of NIKE named after Basketball Hall of Famer, Michael Jordan. The 22 players are routinely selected from the top 100 players as ranked by numerous scouting services.

The 2017 Showcase also featured the Global Showcase, regional and girls’ games.

“We are thrilled to once again shine a light on the next generation of basketball stars and give them the opportunity to play in a premium venue like Barclays Center,” said Larry Miller, president of Jordan Brand.

“We appreciate the support of American Family Insurance, and share in its mission to recognise amateur athletes in their hometowns with the family and friends who helped them succeed.”

Ayton’s attention now shifts to a summer of preparation before he makes his NCAA debut with the Arizona Wildcats.

Ayton, the No. 2 player in the 2017 recruiting class, attended Hillcrest Academy in Phoenix and signed his national letter of intent to join the Wildcats this fall, despite reports by various media outlets expressing eligibility concerns.

At the Jordan Brand Classic, Ayton told Chris Lafayette of 247Sports that he is all set academically and has not considered playing overseas.

“I don’t even know what overseas is. I don’t know what you do over there. I never really looked into overseas,” he said. “We never talked about that ever. We laugh about it that people say that I’m going overseas, but it doesn’t matter.”