Eric Ayala to remain in 2018, transfer to IMG, names top nine
Eric Ayala will remain in the Class
NEW YORK — Eric Ayala could have gone to college this coming fall and played at a place like Syracuse, which was recruiting him hard.
“I mean, Syracuse was really the only school that was pushing the hardest for ’17,” Ayala said this past weekend at the Under Armor Association stop. “Every school that offered me was offering for both classes but some schools mentioned that, ‘We’ll take you in ’17 but if you want to come in ’18 that’s fine, too.'”
The 6-foot-5, 195-pound Putnam Science Academy (CT) and WE-R1 point guard opted to remain in the Class of 2018 and will now have a full year to make his college decision. He is ranked the No. 5 combo guard in 2018 by 247Sports.com.
“I just feel like I got a better opportunity in 2018 as far as trying to establish myself,” he said. “I just want to keep getting better. I’m not in a rush to go to college and rush the process.”
Ayala said Oregon, Miami, Syracuse, Arizona and Maryland all watched him this weekend at Basketball City. Indiana also offered Ayala on Monday, too, he said.
“I just want to see what’s out there as far as recruiting,” he said.
He broke down several schools:
Eric Ayala visited Syracuse for their game against Louisville on Monday and is still weighing whether or not to reclass to 2017 from 2018.
“It was great,” the 6-foot-5 Putnam Science Academy (CT) point guard said. “I got to experience everything first hand. It was one of the best atmospheres I’ve been in! The Dome looks a lot different in person than it does on TV.”
Having missed out on Quade Green (Kentucky) in the Class of 2017, Syracuse would love to add Ayala for next season.
“Their message was to just imagine myself out there on the court while watching the game, and running the offense and coming off pick-and-rolls and making plays, whether that’s creating for one of the bigs or shooters or getting in the lane and finishing around the rim,” he said.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Eric Ayala has now become the alpha dog for Putnam Science Academy (CT) after Hamidou Diallo left early to enroll at Kentucky.
Sans Diallo, Ayala went for 20 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists en route to MVP honors as Putnam held off Vermont Academy, 81-79, on Sunday at the Hoophall Classic.
“I’ve always been a leader,” he said. “I have to be more of a vocal leader [without Diallo], making sure my teammates are in the right spot. And then off the court, I’m just trying to build relationships with my teammates.”
The 6-foot-5 Ayala listed Kansas, Arizona, Maryland, UConn, Syracuse, Louisville, Indiana, Texas and N.C. State among those recruiting him.
Having both lost out on high-profile Class of 2017 guards, Syracuse and UConn are focusing on a 2018 guard whom they hope will reclass.
Eric Ayala, the 6-foot-5, 2018 guard from Putnam Science (CT) Academy, is considering reclassifying to the 2017 class, and Syracuse and UConn are hoping he reclasses down a year. Both schools missed out on guards who chose Kentucky when Quade Green spurned Syracuse for the Wildcats and Hamidou Diallo on Saturday denied UConn to head to the Bluegrass.
“Eric has been a priority for Syracuse, UConn, Indiana, and Maryland the past for the past year,” Terrell Myers of the WE-R1 AAU program told ZAGSBLOG on Sunday. “Lately Syracuse has done a great job communicating with us about how important he is. We haven’t made a decision on which year he will come out. At the moment we are looking for the school that fits his style of play and where he will make the greatest impact.”
Eric Ayala, the 6-foot-5, 2018 guard from Putnam
