Gonzaga Basketball: Profile of the ultimate “glue guy” in Joel Ayayi

OFFENSE

Unsurprisingly, Gonzaga tops the Kenpom Off-Efficiency rankings for the third year in a row. Mark Few has assembled a heck of an offensive unit with countless weapons at 92.1pts per night. Over his time at the helm, Few has worked with different styles, adding layers to the screenplay. It’s not a coincidence that over the principles of the continuity offense, Gonzaga has kept trying new approaches like 5-out motions which make them a handful to matchup.

Ultimately, and based on the several future Draft picks available in the roster, Few has given his men plenty of freedom to trust their own skill and decision making in a creative fast-tempo experience. Gonzaga usually goes to work with multiple playmakers on the court who can initiate sets and run ball-screen action as well as create advantages with sharp passing and spacing with hard cuts.

When the Zags get in their flow, the level of understanding and the speed of their execution isn’t just beautiful but resemble the most NBA-like offense you’ve watched in a college gym in a long, long while.

Among this embarrassment of riches and backcourt options (Suggs, Nembhard, Aaron Cook, Kispert…), Ayayi has made his way in the Gonzaga line up on the back of his perfect fit as secondary ball-handler and ball-mover and some crazy efficiency reflected in his even crazier numbers. A 6’5 wing-guard shooting 69.6 from inside the arc and almost 40% from downtown?

Add 7.0 boards and you have an explosive mix. Worth noting that although Ayayi is wildly considered the 4th/5th option in Spokane, he still makes just under 12pts with the Bulldogs. How is that even possible? To be brief, Joel doesn’t need much of the ball to make his mark, waits patiently for the game to come to him, and rarely takes bad shots. Let’s have a closer look at the bulk of his production.

CUTTING / OFF THE BALL

Even though we’ve seen his lead-guard ways with the French NT before, Gonzaga’s Ayayi fills the stat sheet and does most of his damage off-the-ball, particularly when Kispert plays at the 4. He’s a ‘maestro’ in the art of cutting, especially on the baseline. Joel understands when it’s the best moment to fill the empty corner or go through the middle, and waits for the split second to run at the hoop.

He picks up speed in the fast-break or goes quietly about his business in half-court sets, smooth until he seizes his chance and accelerates with light steps catching the pass and on the run.

At the rim, Ayayi knows how to control his body and length so he can finish with a simple layup or maybe a reverse one, over and around matchups. There’s an obvious chemistry with the rest of Gonzaga’s backcourt involved here. But also with Timme and Watson, built on training sessions and off the gym.

Ayayi’s teammates just know he will be there at the right time waiting to be feed. This ability to become a productive offensive player without the ball is such an underrated skill and another indicator that Ayayi’s game is translatable to the next level.