“It was just amazing. You can’t describe Junkanoo. But once you hear that beat, your body will just move. You’re going to feel it in your chest too,” said DeAndre Ayton during an interview with The Undefeated when describing his trip to his birthplace. The need to achieve success often takes people away from their country of origin, their heritage, and to an unknown land. In order to never forget their roots, they try to bring a part of their culture to their new space. That is what DeAndre Ayton has been doing by often engaging in activities through which he can pay tribute to his roots.
Though you may know a lot about the now-Lakers star’s stats and on-court performance, you might not be that well-acquainted with his background. So here’s a little of what we could find on his journey.
Where is DeAndre Ayton from, and What is DeAndre Ayton’s Nationality?
DeAndre Ayton was born back in July 1998 in Nassau, located in the Bahamas. This makes him 26 years of age, and his nationality is Bahamian.
The NBA star was raised in Nassau until the time came for him to go to high school. DeAndre Ayton was raised by his mother, Andrea, and his stepfather, Alvin. According to reports, DeAndre’s biological father, who lives in Londo in the Bahamas, does not maintain a good relationship with his family. He reportedly only contacted his son when he became a top prospect in the NBA.
Both Andrea and Alvin played a major role in instilling the love of basketball in their son. They would forbid him from going to nearby playgrounds as a young child to keep him safe, and instead, they built and installed a hoop in the driveway. Andrea also enrolled Deandre at a church youth basketball camp, and later in the Jeff Rogers basketball camp, which is regarded to be the Bahamas’ premier summer basketball program.
To pursue basketball on a level similar to the other high school kids, Ayton shifted to San Diego, California. The move was decided by his mother against the wishes of the stepfather, and despite the family’s hardships. Andrea wanted her son to have better opportunities in life, and that could only be provided by pursuing basketball in the land of the NBA.
During his early years in the US, Ayton lived in three different homes. All of them were the homes of men who either worked or were connected to Balboa City School, where Ayton went. Later, due to some “problem”, Andrea shifted her son and enrolled him at Hillcrest Prep in Gilbert, Arizona, for his junior season. Andrea herself kept alternating her time between Phoenix and the Bahamas.
As a junior, DeAndre Ayton averaged 29.2 points, 16.7 rebounds, and 3.8 blocks per game. It’s hard to get a score like that even in NBA 2K16 ‘My Career’ mode. During his senior year, the player was instrumental in leading Hillcrest to a 33–6 record through his average score of 26 points, 15 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks. The team made it through the Grind Session World Championship, and the player himself earned the Finals MVP and season MVP honors.
Due to his high school stats, Ayton was named among the top prospects in the 2017 recruiting class by Scout.com, Rivals.com, and ESPN. Ultimately, he decided to play for the Arizona Wildcats. Throughout 35 games, Ayton started in all 35, and averaged 20.1 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. He shot 7.9-12.9 (61.2%) field goals, 0.3-1.0 (34.3%) 3-pointers, and 4.0-5.5 (73.3%) free throws per game. It was a score impressive enough to allow Ayton to be selected as the 1st overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. The rest, as they say, is history.
What is DeAndre Ayton’s ethnicity?
DeAndre Ayton, as mentioned, is of Bahamian origin. Meanwhile, his stepfather is Nigerian, while his mother is of Jamaican and Bahamian heritage. During his draft, Ayton showed that he had the Bahamian flag sewn inside his jacket, along with the Nigerian and Jamaican flags.
.@DeandreAyton gets selected 1st overall by the @Suns in the 2018 #NBADraft pic.twitter.com/vRX4rc8RNr
— NBA (@NBA) June 22, 2018
DeAndre Ayton’s Bahamian origin allowed him to represent his country in several tournaments over the years. He represented The Bahamas in the 2016 Centrobasket and, in 2023, he joined the Bahamas national team for the 2024 Olympics Pre-Qualifying Tournament.
Is DeAndre Ayton Christian?
It is hard to pinpoint DeAndre Ayton’s religion, since the information about the same isn’t available in the public domain. The player himself has not discussed the same in any of his interviews.
As he starts his new journey with the Los Angeles Lakers, one hopes that DeAndre Ayton continues carrying the well-wishes of both his parents and the people of The Bahamas.
The post What Is DeAndre Ayton’s Ethnicity, Religion, and Nationality? Exploring His Family Roots and Background appeared first on EssentiallySports.