The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

DEANDRE Ayton is expected to be an individual standout for the Arizona Wildcats this season, but his presence among a highly touted recruiting class has pundits ranking them among the top teams in all of college basketball.

ESPN projects the Wildcats to be the top offensive team in the NCAA and several publications, including Athlon and Street and Smith, rank the Wildcats as the number one team this preseason.

Ayton is expected to fill the void in the frontcourt left by 2016 NBA Lottery Pick Lauri Markkanen and join potential All-Americans wings Allonzo Trier and Rawle Alkins to lead the Wildcats attack.

ESPN Insider John Gasaway said Ayton is one of the main reasons many expect this to be the strongest Wildcats team ever for head coach Sean Miller.

"Ayton, 7-1, is projected as a top-three pick in the 2018 draft. Keep in mind that in Pac-12 play last season, the Wildcats' only (and I do mean only) brush with statistical mediocrity came in the form of 2-point accuracy (50.1 per cent).

"Ayton will see to it that this number rises in 2017-18. This could be Miller's strongest team yet in Tucson," he said.

The Wildcats fanbase had an opportunity to witness Ayton's impact during Arizona's foreign tour in August. He averaged 14 points and nine rebounds in two games against Cobinado Valenciano and the Mataro All-Stars.

In another preseason projection, CBS Sports selected Ayton as the best centre in college basketball this season.

CBS' Gary Parrish said Ayton's combination of size and skillset may be unmatched at the pivot spot in the 2017-18 season.

"Everything I've heard out of Arizona is that Ayton has been tremendous in offseason workouts.

"He should be the Wildcats next one-and-done and possibly the key to Sean Miller's first Final Four," Parrish said.

Miller added: "He's obsessed with being a great player and because of that I think his future is incredibly bright.

"We are all looking forward to providing him with an environment where he can grow and also give our team and recruiting class that special player who can go inside and out."

He closed out his high school career earlier this summer with appearances at the top level elite showcases for prep players.

He scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the West's 124-116 win over the East at the Jordan Brand Classic and at the McDonald's All-American Game he finished with eight points and 11 rebounds.

The unofficial start to the season for the Wildcats begins with the annual McDonald's Red-Blue Game on Friday, October 20.

They officially begin the season with a trio of home games versus Northern Arizona on November 10, UMBC on November 12 and Cal State Bakersfield on November 16.