Gonzaga commit Michael Ajayi will enter NBA Draft

Former Pepperdine wing will maintain college eligibility

Jan 4, 2024; Spokane, Washington, USA; Pepperdine Waves guard Michael Ajayi (1) loses control of the ball against Gonzaga / James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

Michael Ajayi will enter his name into the 2024 NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility, he announced on social media Sunday.

Ajayi, a 6-foot-7 wing from Kent, Washington, made his decision nearly two weeks after he announced he was transferring to Gonzaga from Pepperdine. He'll have until May 29 to withdraw his name from draft consideration to maintain his college eligibility for next season, per NCAA rules.

Ajayi averaged 17.2 points and 9.9 rebounds as a junior in 2023-24, earning All-WCC first team honors. He shot 46.7% from the field and 47.0% from 3-point range (2.5 attempts per game). At the time of his transfer to Gonzaga on March 27, Ajayi was ranked No. 6 in On3.com’s transfer portal rankings.

Ajayi discussed how his immediate connection with Gonzaga assistant R-Jay Barsh played a role in his decision in an interview with 247Sports:

“Relationships were the biggest thing for me. R-Jay Barsh came down to my house and talked to me and I felt a genuine bond. It's really important for me to have a guy that has been a coach at the same levels I have been. Coach Barsh knows what it takes to make it and to feel like an underdog. I know a lot of people in Seattle and Tacoma that know R-Jay and have a lot of trust in him.”

Ajayi burst onto the scene as one of the most skilled scorers in the West Coast Conference after shining for two years at Pierce Community College in Puyallup, Washington, where he was named the 2022 Northwest Athletic Conference West Region’s Most Valuable Player and the West Region’s Freshman of the Year.

Whether Ajayi's multi-level scoring ability and versatility on the wing translates to the NBA level is uncertain. His name is left off notable mock drafts from experts across the industry. Another season at the NCAA level under Mark Few's tutelage could change his outlook as a pro for the better this time next spring, as it did for Julian Strawther and Drew Timme last year.

Ajayi is the lone Gonzaga player to enter his name into the NBA Draft.