Gonzaga has landed a commitment from versatile 6-foot-7 forward Michael Ajayi, one of the top players available in the transfer portal. This season, Ajayi led Pepperdine in scoring (17.2 PPG), rebounding (9.9 RPG), and 3PT shooting (47% on 2.5 3PA) in his first season at the Division One level.

"Marathon Mike" has shown unwavering determination on his journey to get where he's at, and we have a feeling he's far from finished in pursuing his ultimate goal. We connected with Mike to hear about his journey, development, recruitment, commitment to Gonzaga, and goals moving forward.

Taking the JUCO Route at Pierce College

Background: Ajayi went to Kentwood High School in Covington, Washington. He was a late bloomer who experienced a major growth spurt and only played one year of Varsity basketball, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I had zero offers in high school... So I went to Pierce College. I went on a visit with my dad, and we loved the school, nice gym.. nice facilities... And I told my Dad, before I even played, Dad I'm going to make it out like I promise you I am going work every day, and I going fulfill my dream.”
“From day one, Coach Hart, my assistant coach, taught me a valuable lesson -- stay your ass in the gym! Every day in the morning, before practice, and after practice, I got shots up and worked on getting better. My other assistant coach, he loved defense and rebounding, so he always conveyed that to me, rebound rebound rebound."

How a Pair of NBA Veterans Helped Secure Mike His First Division-One Offer…

Isaiah Thomas (left) and Jamal Crawford (right) pictured at The CrawsOver Pro-Am League / HomeTeam Hoops

“After my first year at Pierce, I had averaged 20 and 10, but I still had no offers. No one knew me at all. So one day, I was playing in a Spring Pro-AM hosted by Jamal Crawford.”
“I made a name for myself there. I played a lot of games in there and to be honest... I was hooping. I mean a lot of people even, Jamal, saw what I could do, said I could hoop. Dalen Terry, who had just got drafted to the Chicago Bulls told me ‘keep working.’ He saw my potential saying, ‘hey, keep working, I believe in you, you can make it here.’”
“So that following Summer after the CrawsOver Pro-Am. I went to a gym where Isaiah Thomas was there and I played well, to the point where everyone in my gym was surprised, like no one knew who I was.”
“I just walked into the gym and I started hooping. After the runs, IT was like, ‘I gotta know this kid. Who is he? Where's he from?’ And so I was telling him my story and how I'm at a junior college right now playing at Pierce College.”
“He said that he was so surprised. He was like ‘you should not be at JUCO right now. You should be at least a division one player.’ So after that he called his former coach, Coach Romar. And after that, Coach Romar took an interest in me. And he eventually offered me my first division-one scholarship.”

Transfer Portal Recruitment

Arizona, Auburn, Baylor, California, Cincinnati, Colorado, Gonzaga, Indiana, Kansas, Ole Miss, UCF, UCLA, USC, and Virginia all contacted Ajayi during his time in the Portal.

"I mean, I'm truly blessed, you know, like, I would never have thought that these schools would be contacting me."

What He Was Looking For

"Well, me and my Dad have been through this process a couple of times now. We're just trying to see what's the best fit for me and what program can help me make it to the NBA. I'm looking for the right fit. I know how NIL works and all that money stuff is coming in... but I'm more focused on the long-term money and that will come with finding the best overall situation."
"Find the right fit, a team that trusts me and can build around me."

Why Gonzaga?

“26 straight NCAA appearances, 9 straight Sweet 16s, NBA history, Washington is home, and Mark Few is one of the best coaches in College Basketball.”

Message to Gonzaga Fans

“Let’s go win a Championship!”

The Scouting Report

At a strong 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot wingspan, the late-blooming combo forward has all the tools to be a key piece for Gonzaga in ‘24-25 with a budding upside that will have him on NBA teams' radar as a 2025 Draft prospect. Ajayi scored 17.2 points per game this season as the Waves’ primary scoring option in his first division one season. He shot 47% on two-point attempts, 47% from three on 2.5 3PA per game, and 71% from the free-throw line. He was 39/82 on catch-and-shoot jumpers (47.6%) and 61/143 on off-the-dribble jumpers (42.7%).

Ajayi is a physical slasher, rebounder, and versatile defensive piece. His offensive game is budding, and he’s shown flashes of the ability to attack out of the triple threat and leverage his physical tools downhill with creativity.

Development Moving Forward

This summer, Ajayi has set his sights on refining his game by expanding his shooting range, sharpening his ball-handling, and becoming more defensively sound. Recognizing his potential as a disruptive defender across multiple positions, he is unwavering in his commitment to unlocking his full potential. Ajayi draws inspiration from Kobe Bryant's relentless determination and work ethic, lethal jab series, and mid-range proficiency. He also studies Khris Middleton for his effortless craft and creativity in getting to his spots.

Photo by Morgan Davenport / Pepperdinewaves

Drawing comparisons to New York Knicks' wing OG Anunoby (6-foot-7 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan) and Toronto Raptors' Scottie Barnes (6-foot-7 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan), Ajayi aspires to mirror their versatility and two-way impact on winning.

Newest Gonzaga commit Michael Ajayi on his decision, incredible journey and NBA aspirations