Eric Ayala Explained

Eric Ayala
Position:Point guard / shooting guard
Height Ft:6
Height In:5
Weight Lbs:205
Nationality:Puerto Rican
Birth Date:2 January 1999
High School:
College:Maryland (2018–2022)
Draft Year:2022
Career Start:2022
Years1:2022
Team1:Atléticos de San Germán
Years2:2022–2023
Team2:Keflavík

Eric Ayala (born January 2, 1999) is a Puerto Rican professional basketball player. He played college basketball for Maryland.

High school career

Ayala played basketball for Sanford School in Hockessin, Delaware. After his sophomore season, he transferred to Putnam Science Academy in Putnam, Connecticut.[1] Ayala played a postgraduate season at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.[2] A consensus four-star recruit, he committed to playing college basketball for Maryland over offers from Miami (Florida) and Oregon.[3]

College career

As a freshman, Ayala became a regular starter at Maryland, averaging 8.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.[4] In his sophomore season, he averaged 8.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, shooting 35.8 percent from the field.[5] In his junior season, he became his team's primary point guard with the departure of Anthony Cowan Jr.[6] Ayala averaged 15.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game as a junior, earning All-Big Ten honorable mention. He declared for the 2021 NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility, before ultimately returning.[7] Ayala was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten by the media as a senior.[8]

Professional career

In September 2022, Ayala signed with Keflavík of the Icelandic Úrvalsdeild karla after originally having signed with Sopron during the summer.[9]

National team career

Ayala represented Puerto Rico at the 2015 FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship in Argentina, averaging 19.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.[10]

Career statistics

College

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19| style="text-align:left;"| Maryland| 34 || 33 || 29.0 || .430 || .406 || .774 || 2.9 || 2.1 || .3 || .3 || 8.6|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20| style="text-align:left;"| Maryland| 31 || 20 || 27.8 || .358 || .274 || .725 || 2.9 || 2.5 || .4 || .1 || 8.5|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21| style="text-align:left;"| Maryland| 29 || 28 || 33.6 || .437 || .337 || .831 || 4.3 || 2.2 || 1.2 || .1 || 15.1|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22| style="text-align:left;"| Maryland| 31 || 29 || 33.4 || .383 || .339 || .688 || 4.6 || 2.1 || 0.8 || .1 || 14.7|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 125 || 110 || 30.9 || .402 || .337 || .758 || 3.7 || 2.2 || .6 || .2 || 11.6

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Price . Betsy . Sanford's Ayala takes unique journey to lead Maryland program as junior . Delaware Live . May 30, 2021 . January 13, 2021.
  2. Web site: Markus . Don . From latchkey kid to lead guard, Maryland's Eric Ayala has always been mature for his age . . May 30, 2021 . January 31, 2019.
  3. Web site: Horn . Brittany . Wilmington native chooses Maryland for college hoops career . . May 30, 2021 . October 14, 2017.
  4. Web site: Markus . Don . Maryland's Eric Ayala calm, confident despite season-long shooting slump: 'He always stays balanced' . . May 30, 2021 . January 14, 2020.
  5. Web site: Donohue . Pat . Ayala ready to replace Cowan for Maryland with some help from newcomers . . May 30, 2021 . November 27, 2020.
  6. Web site: Ermann . Jeff . Ayala on replacing Cowan, Terps roster and more . . May 30, 2021 . September 30, 2020.
  7. Web site: Rosh . Lauren . Maryland basketball's Eric Ayala enters NBA Draft, will retain eligibility . Testudo Times . May 30, 2021 . April 9, 2021.
  8. 2021-22 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Postseason Honors Announced. https://web.archive.org/web/20220308180525/https://bigten.org/news/2022/3/8/2021-22-big-ten-mens-basketball-postseason-honors-announced.aspx. dead. March 8, 2022. . March 8, 2022 . March 8, 2022.
  9. News: Sindri Sverrisson . Keflavík frumsýnir Bandaríkjamann í kvöld . 22 September 2022 . . 22 September 2022 . Icelandic.
  10. Web site: Myers . Brad . Sanford's Eric Ayala excels on international stage . . May 30, 2021 . June 16, 2015.