Michael Ajayi has made a commitment to join the Gonzaga Bulldogs.
Pepperdine transfer Michael Ajayi recently announced his commitment to join the Gonzaga Bulldogs for the upcoming 2024-25 season via social media.
Standing at 6-foot-7, Ajayi, hailing from Kentwood High School in Washington, showcased his talent by averaging 17.2 points and 9.9 rebounds as a junior, securing All-WCC first team honors. Impressively, he maintained a shooting percentage of 46.7% from the field and an impressive 47.0% from beyond the arc, with an average of 2.5 attempts per game. Ajayi’s ranking at No. 6 in On3.com’s transfer portal rankings underscores his value in the collegiate basketball landscape.
According to On3.com’s Joe Tipton, Ajayi garnered interest from several prestigious programs, including Indiana, Kansas, Arizona, Baylor, and UCLA. Following his entry into the transfer portal on March 18, Ajayi was reportedly planning visits to both Gonzaga and Ole Miss.
Ajayi’s skill set as an athletic multi-level scorer positions him as a potential replacement for Anton Watson in the starting lineup once the fifth-year senior graduates this spring. While Ajayi may not match Watson’s defensive prowess, his ability to drive, finish at the rim, execute mid-range pull-ups, and shoot from long range would introduce a new dimension to the Bulldogs’ offense.
Having spent two years at Pierce Community College in Puyallup, Washington, where he earned recognition as the 2022 Northwest Athletic Conference West Region’s Most Valuable Player and Freshman of the Year, Ajayi is set to make his Division-I debut. Prior to his time at Pierce, he completed a single season of high school varsity basketball at Kentwood High School in 2020-21.
As Ajayi prepares to join the Bulldogs, Gonzaga remains vigilant in monitoring the transfer portal during their NCAA Tournament journey. Names such as Stanford transfer Kanaan Carlyle and SE Louisiana transfer Roger McFarlane are reportedly under consideration by the coaching staff as they navigate the 45-day portal window, with May 1 marking the deadline for players to enter the transfer portal (excluding graduate transfers and those transferring following a coaching change).
