Gonzaga Basketball: Why Michael Ajayi is the most important team transfer for 2024-25

You could certainly argue that Gonzaga had a down year last season, and yet that down year included yet another run to the Sweet Sixteen. While the Bulldogs didn’t win regular season or tournament titles in the WCC, Mark Few had his squad ready to play during March Madness when it mattered most. The Bulldogs remain one of the best programs in the nation and are loaded with talent as per usual.

Many of the anchors of last year’s team will return, namely leading scorer Graham Ike and talented guards Nolan Hickman and Ryan Nembhard. The Bulldogs did lose Anton Watson after five great years in Spokane but return a ton of experience up and down the roster. Gonzaga will be older and more experienced and their Transfer Portal additions are a major reason why.

First and foremost, the Bulldogs are adding Braeden Smith, a craft point guard who just spent two phenomenal seasons at Colgate becoming one of the best backcourt players in New England. Another player with significant experience, Khalif Battle is a guard who comes from Arkansas after becoming a talented scorer at Butler and Temple in previous seasons.

The biggest addition for the Bulldogs comes from their own league, as they’ve swiped Michael Ajayi from Pepperdine. After spending two seasons at Pierce College, a junior college in Washington, Ajayi came onto the scene in a big way with the Waves last year, averaging 17.2 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. He made 47% of his 3-pointers, albeit with limited chances, and was a prolific scorer and rebounder.

Despite just that single season of D1 experience, Ajayi was one of the best small forwards in the Transfer Portal and gets a shot to star with the Bulldogs. He earned First Team All-WCC and was the league’s leading rebounder, contributing for a Pepperdine squad that won just 13 games. While he might not be in a position to match that exact level of production at Gonzaga, Ajayi has certainly shown his elite playmaking and presence this past season.

It’s impressive enough to have the Bulldogs bringing back nearly all of last season’s talent. Adding three playmakers of this caliber into the mix takes it to the next level. We’re not expecting any of these players to match that level of production, especially with Ajayi and Smith at significantly more prominent programs. However, Ajayi is going to settle into a major role as a starting forward and could be one of the biggest reasons for next season’s success.

Gonzaga has reached the second weekend in each of the last nine NCAA Tournaments. The combination of returning and new talent in Spokane makes a tenth straight trip look extremely attainable. Will this be another resounding season for the Bulldogs after last year’s issues? Does Ajayi match his production as a junior in these new surroundings?