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About Joel Ayayi
• Joel Ayayi is a fluid guard whose ability to do a bit of everything and improvement from the perimeter as a junior made him a vital cog in Gonzaga’s run to the national title game. The younger brother of WNBA player Valeriane Ayayi, he emerged as a prospect early in his career in France. Averaging 11.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists at the 2016 FIBA U16 European Championship, Ayayi spent the next two seasons with the Centre Federal du Basket-Ball in Paris before heading to play for head coach Mark Few in Spokane. Redshirting his first year as a 17-year-old and filling a minor role in his second season at Gonzaga, Ayayi had a breakout performance at the 2019 FIBA U19 World Championship and maintained that momentum into his junior year with the Bulldogs. Making some strides as a fourth-year junior averaging 12 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists, Ayayi earned All-WCC 1st Team honors.
• Listed at 6-foot-5 with a lanky 180-pound frame to go along with decent length, Ayayi has solid size for a guard, good lateral quickness, and impressive fluidity.
• Checking a variety of boxes as the third guard in an incredibly talented Gonzaga backcourt, Ayayi thrived in a complementary role as a junior. He was extremely opportunistic in the open floor and cutting off the ball, shot the ball well from the perimeter choosing his spots effectively, and provided some value as a passer both in the flow of the Bulldogs’ offense and functioning as a secondary ball handler for stretches.
• Doing a lot of little things on both ends, Ayayi showed a defensive toughness as a junior that he has developed steadily over the course of his collegiate career. Frequently guarding small forwards, staying active on the glass, and getting in the passing lanes with good instincts, he held his own defensively despite giving up strength in many and matchups and size in others.
Advanced Stats
• Playing primarily off the ball last season but also getting some opportunities to create out of ball screens, Ayayi emerged as a terrific all-around role player for the Bulldogs. Showing improvement moving off the ball and as a jump shooter, his growth from his sophomore year was part of what made Gonzaga so potent on the offensive end.
• With a quarter of his possessions coming on put backs and cuts, Ayayi showed tremendous timing and very good energy off the ball. Flashing the ability to take what opposing defenses gave him with his fluidity off the bounce, he was extremely opportunistic at the rim within the Bulldogs’ spacing. Averaging 1.41 points per shot around the rim in the half court [89th percentile], Ayayi is not the most explosive athlete, but has very good touch and can play above the rim with a head of steam.
• Proving efficient from the perimeter as well, Ayayi scored 1.21 points per perimeter shot in the half court [95th percentile] with his attempts split between catch-and-shoot jumpers and pull-ups. Making significant strides as a jump shooter each year at the collegiate level, he is not overly dynamic getting to his pull-up, but has soft touch from beyond the arc to take what defenders give him off the bounce and space the floor effectively.
• Seeing more action on the ball at the junior level internationally than he has at Gonzaga, Ayayi nonetheless showed the ability to make the simple play as a passer out of ball screens in limited opportunities last season. With solid vision on the move and the willingness to make the extra pass on the perimeter, Ayayi is an unselfish guard who could get back to his roots as he gets more comfortable handling pressure and becomes a more consistently pull-up jump shooter.
• Ranked 4th in the WCC in cut scoring (2.6 points per game)
Defensive Analysis
• Ayayi is an active defender who was asked go guard multiple positions as a junior in Gonzaga’s three-guard lineups. Making an impact in the passing lanes and on the glass, he lacks a degree of high-end quickness and physicality in some matchups but has terrific instincts and competes with steady intensity.
• Showing a bit more toughness than he did as an underclassman, the 21-year-old still has some room natural room to develop as his frame improves.
— Profile by Synergy Sports
