Arizona Stars To Enter NBA Draft

Deandre Ayton, Rawle Alkins and Allonzo Trier will leave Arizona early and declare for the NBA draft, according to Daniel Rapaport of Sports Illustrated. Coach Sean Miller informed reporters of their intentions Saturday, and all three players participated in the Wildcats’ senior night ceremonies.

The turmoil surrounding the Arizona program may have figured into their decisions, although Ayton was a lock to leave as an expected top five pick and Alkins and Trier are both potential first-rounders. Miller’s future as Wildcats coach is in jeopardy in the wake of reports that the FBI has recordings of him discussing a $100K payment to bring Ayton to Arizona. Miller strongly denied any wrongdoing in a press conference this week.

Ayton is projected second overall in the latest mock draft compiled by Jonathan Givony of ESPN. A seven-footer with game-changing abilities on both ends of the court, the freshman is averaging 19.9 points and 11.4 rebounds per night.

Alkins, a sophomore swingman, is slotted as the 41st pick by Givony. He missed the first nine games of the season with a broken right foot, but appears fully recovered, averaging 13.7 points and 4.6 rebounds in 19 contests.

Trier, a junior shooting guard, is comes in at pick 45 on Givony’s list. He was recently reinstated by the NCAA after being declared ineligible for testing positive for a banned substance. Trier is the Wildcats’ second-leading scorer at 18.9 points per game.

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