DeAndre Ayton to Arizona: Wildcats Land 5-Star PF Prospect

DeAndre Ayton, the top-ranked player in the 2017 college basketball recruiting class, announced Tuesday he will attend the University of Arizona.

ESPN.com's Jeff Borzello confirmed the news.

"None at all. My family says college is a must," Ayton said on SportsCenter when asked if he'll forgo college to play overseas, via Jeff Eisenberg of Yahoo Sports.

A lot of times when a player has spent as much time in the spotlight as Ayton has during the recruiting process, the tendency is to exaggerate their flaws. The difference with the 7-foot power forward, who's ranked No. 1 overall in 247Sports' composite ratings, is that he doesn't have much to pick apart.

The Hillcrest Prep Academy standout possesses jaw-dropping potential thanks to his combination of size, length, athleticism and shooting ability. If college coaches could create a prospect from the ground up, they'd use plenty of Ayton's traits.

Jared Anderson of KUJH-TV compared Ayton to a longtime NBA superstar:

While he's still a work in progress defensively, Ayton possesses offensive versatility that makes it seem like he could step into an NBA game and make an impact.

Overtime highlighted his power in the post:

Ridiculous Upside showcased his jumper:

Ayton's even flashed the talent to create his own offense off the dribble. It's a testament to his work ethic at a time when most highly touted post prospects are content to live in the paint and overpower smaller players.

Though his stay at the collegiate level figures to end after a single season, his arrival is going to provide a massive boost.

The fact Ayton chose Arizona is a significant upset. While the Wildcats were among the finalists, indications throughout the process suggested Kansas was the favorite with Kentucky as a possible sleeper capable of stealing him late. Instead, they both missed out.

Getting the commitment this early should also help Arizona during the rest of the 2017 recruiting period. There will probably be no shortage of other top prospects moving the program into consideration now that it has the top-ranked player in the fold.

Head coach Sean Miller has taken the Wildcats to the Elite Eight three times in his seven seasons in charge, but they haven't reached the Final Four since 2001. This could be the signing to finally put the team over the top.