Prospect Spotlight: Dylan Aiono (2019)
Ayala high school forward Dylan Aiono understands that though he may have all the physical attributes needed to play Division I college basketball, advancing his skill set will be crucial to his production.
“The next step is to just get better,” Aiono told Prep Hoops So-Cal. “I need to get more exposure and keep moving forward with my game.”
The well-built 6-foot-6, 200-pound wing accomplished one of those goals in the spring and summer, gaining exposure while playing with Dinos Trigonis and his Belmont Shore club team.
Aiono said that he learned things both about mentality and skill.
“I learned that it’s not always about you,” he said. “You have to give the ball up, everybody can score and you have to do the things that can set you apart from them.”
Ayala small forward Dylan Aiono is prepared to establish himself as a versatile wing in the 2019 class.The Inland Empire junior noted that one of the biggest takeaways he had from playing with and against high-level perimeter players was on the defensive side of the ball.
“It helped me figure out what to watch for,” Aiono said. “Different moves and footwork and everything like that.”
On the skill side of things, Aiono was really able to discern which parts of his game are his strengths and which areas he needs to work on.
“My biggest strengths are going to the basket and my ball handling,” he said. “I need to work on my perimeter shooting and my defense, of course.”
As for how he’s going about working on his perimeter shooting, Aiono willingly places himself in the gym early before school and stays late after practice.
“I shoot every morning from 7 to 8,” Aiono said. “I shoot about 300 shots, then go to school, and then to practice, and I get up more shots after workouts.”
The class of 2019 prospect has a handful of early interest from both low and mid-major schools.