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No. 1 overall recruit DeAndre Ayton commits to Arizona

Five-star center DeAndre Ayton has committed to Arizona.
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Five-star center DeAndre Ayton has committed to Arizona, he announced on SportsCenter Tuesday evening.

The seven-foot Bahamian prospect is Scout.com’s No. 1 overall recruit in the 2017 class. His commitment came somewhat surprisingly on Tuesday, with little fanfare ahead of the decision.

Ayton plays at Hillcrest Academy in Arizona, where he transferred ahead of his junior year. A physical, true center with the athletic tools to succeed at the college level, he is a surefire NBA prospect and at this stage, a near-lock for the top of the draft whenever he declares.

• DAVIS: Inside Ayton’s rise to No. 1 prospect

In picking the Wildcats and head coach Sean Miller, Ayton remains close to his current home. He is Arizona’s second commitment in the 2017 class, joining four-star guard Alex Barcello. His decision comes as somewhat of a surprise, with general consensus centered on Kansas and Kentucky, his other two choices.

- Jeremy Woo

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