Gonzaga forward is heading to the Big East Conference after spending his first four college seasons on the West Coast. He has committed to Butler, becoming the second former Gonzaga player in the transfer portal to secure a new destination for next season. Dusty Stromer also announced last week that he will transfer to Grand Canyon.
Ajayi’s time at Gonzaga didn’t go as expected after he arrived in Spokane following a successful junior season at Pepperdine, where he earned first-team All-West Coast Conference honors. Standing 6-foot-7 and weighing 228 pounds, Ajayi moved in and out of Gonzaga’s starting lineup. After a promising stretch of four consecutive double-figure scoring games, his playing time significantly dropped, and he averaged just 10.8 minutes per game over the final five games, including a season-low six minutes in a 81-76 loss to Houston in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Over the season, Ajayi averaged 6.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 18.9 minutes per game, shooting 44.6% from the field and 18.2% from beyond the arc. These numbers were a decline from his standout performance at Pepperdine, where he led the WCC with 17.2 points, 47% 3-point shooting, and 9.9 rebounds per game. He did record two double-doubles during the season, after nearly averaging a double-double as a junior. His best performance came in a road victory over Portland, where he scored a season-high 20 points.
Ajayi, a Kent, Washington native, spent his first two college seasons at Pierce Community College. The NCAA granted a blanket waiver in December, giving junior college athletes an additional year of eligibility. While Ajayi initially wasn’t interested in returning to college basketball, he reconsidered the option after Gonzaga’s loss to Houston and entered the transfer portal about two weeks ago.
Butler, which finished 15-20 overall and 6-14 in the Big East under coach Thad Matta, has added three players through the portal and will also welcome three incoming freshmen. The Bulldogs ended their season with a 100-93 loss to Boise State in the second round of the College Basketball Crown in Las Vegas.
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