DeAndre Ayton is key to Arizona's return to Final Four

— -- DeAndre Ayton?might be the player who leads the Arizona Wildcats?back to the Final Four.

Wildcats coach Sean Miller has come within a victory on three separate occasions since arriving in Tucson seven years ago. He has brought plenty of talent to the desert since taking over, with five players selected in the first round of the NBA draft.

But he has never landed a recruit like Ayton -- until now. Ayton, the No. 1 prospect in the ESPN 100, selected Arizona on Tuesday.

Ayton is a 7-foot-1, 245-pounder who hails from the Bahamas. Some coaches go with the Kevin Garnett comparison. Others say he reminds them more of Chris Webber. Whatever the case, Ayton is a game-changer on both ends of the court.

Derrick Williams carried Arizona to an unlikely Elite Eight berth in 2011 and was drafted with the second overall pick, but has been exposed in the NBA as a solid rotation guy. The 2014 squad was loaded with a trio of current NBA players: Aaron Gordon, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and T.J. McConnell. The 2015 team boasted Hollis-Jefferson, McConnell and Stanley Johnson.

Both lost one step shy of the Final Four, both times to Wisconsin.

Ayton is a one-year cornerstone Miller will build his team around in 2017. Kansas wanted him desperately. So did John Calipari and Kentucky.

Miller found a way to keep him out west.

Ayton runs the court as well as any big man in the country. He can score in the post, he can step out and make shots from the perimeter. He's quick, agile and strong, rebounds at a high level and alters and blocks shots. He also plays with a high motor. Just his mere presence will help his teammates, and not just because of his passing ability. He will also demand constant double-teams.

When Ayton arrives in Tucson next year, he might be playing alongside Lauri Markkanen, another talented 7-footer and potential lottery pick. Allonzo Trier could be gone to the NBA draft, but the Wildcats will likely have point guard? Kobi Simmons?and wing? Rawle Alkins?-- two other prized freshmen who, like Markkanen, arrived on campus this year. The Wildcats should have frontcourt depth with Dusan Ristic and Chance Comanche, as well as the return of talented wing Ray Smith, who is coming back from a pair of torn ACLs.

Arizona isn't done with this recruiting class, either. The Wildcats remain in the mix for a pair of top-20 prospects: P.J. Washington and Lonnie Walker. Ayton's pledge should certainly help with other recruits.

The Ayton commitment is a significant victory for Arizona both on and off the court. Miller has fared well against Calipari in the last few years, landing Gordon, Johnson and now Ayton. Miller beat out Kentucky and Kansas for former big man Kaleb Tarczewski, but lost to Bill Self and the Jayhawks last year for heralded freshman wing Josh Jackson.

Ayton won't just be the big man on campus when he gets to Arizona in a year -- he'll also be talked about ad nauseam on a national level. He's projected by many as the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NBA draft, and if that occurs, it would be the first time Arizona would lay claim to the No. 1 pick. Williams and Mike Bibby were both taken second overall, and Sean Elliott went third.

But ultimately, what matters is whether Ayton can lead Arizona back to the Final Four. He maintains he won't be going the overseas route, instead focusing on trying bringing a national title to the school for the first time in more than two decades.

Gordon was a tremendous player. Johnson had a terrific season in Tucson. But neither have the talent of Ayton.