HIGH SCHOOL

Hillcrest Hoops courting top 2017 prospect DeAndre Ayton to join Marvin Bagley III

Richard Obert
azcentral sports
Team EZ Pass' DeAndre Ayton #0 shoots a free throw against Team Doo Be Doo in the Under Armour Elite 24 game on Saturday, August 22, 2015 in Brooklyn, NY.

Hillcrest Hoops could become the No. 1 high school team in the country in the next couple of days if 7-foot, 230-pound power forward DeAndre Ayton decides to join the new Phoenix prep academy.

He is interested in joining forces with 6-11 point forward Marvin Bagley III, the top-rated 2018 prospect in the country by ESPN. Bagley left Tempe Corona del Sol this fall to join his father, Marvin Jr., who took a position at the program as associate head coach. Bagley's brother Marcus, a 6-5 eighth grader, will also be playing for Hillcrest's national high school team in its first season.

Nick Weaver, director of basketball at Hillcrest, said that Ayton is visiting Hillcrest Sunday and Monday and will likely make his decision on Tuesday.

"He likes the idea of playing with Marvin," Weaver said.

Marvin Bagley III leaving Corona del Sol to join Hillcrest Hoops

Bagley was azcentral sports' Player of the Year as a freshman after helping Corona del Sol capture a fourth consecutive Division I basketball title last season. He averaged 19.6 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 2.3 assists.

Ayton, a power forward from the Bahamas, withdrew last week from Balboa City School in San Diego. He is ranked by ESPN, Rivals.com, Scout.com and 247Sports as the No. 1 player in the nation in the 2017 class. His offers include Arizona, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland and San Diego State.

Balboa City is similar to Hillcrest, which is not part of the Arizona Interscholastic Association and plays a national schedule. Balboa City plays a national schedule and is not part of the California Interscholastic Federation's San Diego Section. He averaged 21 points, 16 rebounds and 3.8 blocks last season.

Hillcrest Hoops hopes to learn from Westwind Prep and build a Findlay Prep-like powerhouse

"If he joins us, there is no reason why we can't win a national championship," Weaver said.

Weaver said Ayton and Bagley are different players and would complement each other. Weaver compares the style of play of Bagley to that of Lamar Odom, a player who could go inside and outside and handles the ball really well.

"Marvin is the best high school basketball player I've seen," Weaver said.

Hillcrest is scheduled to play national powerhouse Henderson (Nev.) Findlay Prep four times this season. Hillcrest's home basketball games will be played at Phoenix College. It started official practice Friday at Inspire Courts in Gilbert with Midnight Madness.

Reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-460-1710. Follow him at twitter.com/azc_obert, Listen to the Which Wich High School Football Preview Show every Friday from 6-7 p.m., on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060 with Dan Manucci and Richard Obert.