Ayres was one of those players who constantly kept defenses on edge all weekend. He has that quick flasher ability and slipped into openings at just the right moment to get easy touches and create scoring chances. His dribble dive game stood out, as he attacked gaps decisively and put pressure on the rim every time he touched it. Once he gets downhill he’s strong going to the basket and finishes with confidence. On the defensive end he added value with active hands and timely steals, jumping passing lanes and turning defense into offense. Ayres energy and ability to impact the game in multiple ways made him a steady difference maker throughout the tournament

Ayres made his mark as the ultimate glue guy for his squad, doing all the little things that don’t always show up on the stat sheet but win games. He brought toughness and physicality on the defensive end, protecting the paint and making life difficult for anyone attacking the rim. On the perimeter, he closed out hard on shooters, using his size and effort to contest shots effectively. Offensively, that same grit showed up as he cleaned the glass for easy putbacks and powered his way to strong finishes around the bucket. Ayres impact was felt on every possession