CHICAGO — Just in case the Phoenix Suns haven’t seen enough of Deandre Ayton to make him the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft next month, USC coach Andy Enfield has some game film to lend them.
Like, say, the one from the Pac-12 Tournament final. The one where Ayton had 32 points and 17 rebounds to help UA beat USC a night after he also had 32 points and 14 rebounds against UCLA.
Enfield probably doesn’t even need video to replay those games. He can do it in his head.
“I think Ayton will be the No. 1 pick and I think he deserves to be,†Enfield said at the NBA combine. “He had a great year and based on the semifinal against UCLA and the championship against us, I think he showed that he deserves to be the No. 1 pick. He took over the championship game in the last 10 minutes. He was virtually unstoppable for a stretch of the game.â€
But, as it turns out, the Suns probably don’t need scouting help at the top of the draft. Ayton played two seasons in their backyard at Phoenix Hillcrest Prep, then scooted down I-10 for a year of college at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥.
The Suns also know plenty about two other primary options for the top pick: New coach Igor Kokoskov coached highly-regarded European guard Luka Doncic on the Slovenian national team last year while the uniquely skilled Marvin Bagley played a year at Tempe Corona Del Sol before bouncing around the prep school circuit and spending last season at Duke.
All that could come in handy, especially because Doncic may not be available for the entire predraft process depending on how long his postseason goes for Real Madrid.
“No team will have a better feel for Luka’s strength and weaknesses than we will on and off the court,†Suns general manager Ryan McDonough said. “His skills, the personality, the competitiveness, we’ll have all that information.â€
Likewise, McDonough said the Suns have watched Ayton plenty in practices at UA and in games, knowing that their on-court play was probably going to earn them a high lottery pick.
“For us, there are a lot of natural connections,†McDonough said. “You say nobody’s seen Deandre Ayton more than the Suns, which is probably true, and the owner (Robert Sarver) went to the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥.
“But Marvin Bagley is also from Phoenix and is one of the best prep school players of all time. And Luka, the connection with the coach, that is all true. But at the same time you’ve got to get the best players. And for me it’s close. It’s not just two guys. For me personally there’s also Marvin Bagley and Mohamed Bamba. We’re gonna work out between 5-10 guys and say, 'Look we’re wide open,' which we are.â€
Ayton didn’t show up in Chicago for testing or interviews with teams and media. McDonough said the Suns expect to bring him in for testing and a workout as the June 21 draft gets closer.