Gonzaga transfer portal targets: Michael Ajayi, Kanaan Carlyle headline list

Bulldogs reportedly interested in three top-25 players in the transfer portal

Author:
Cole Forsman
Publish date:
Mar 26, 2024

In this story:

Gonzaga Bulldogs

Transfer Portal

michael ajayi

As the Gonzaga Bulldogs remain in the thick of another deep NCAA Tournament run, they’ve kept a close eye on the staggering amount of names that have been entered into the transfer portal since Selection Sunday ended.

Over 650 players have entered the portal since March 18 according to 247Sports, and there’s likely more on the way before it officially closes on May 1. That window excludes players who are eligible to graduate and enter the portal at any time as a “grad transfer.” Additionally, any player on a team that fired its head coach is granted a 30-day window in which they can enter the portal, which is not bound to the March 18-May 1 period.

Needless to say there will be a lot of change coming over the next few weeks and into the offseason. After adding Graham Ike, Ryan Nembhard and Steele Venters in the transfer portal last offseason, here are current transfer portal targets the Zags have reportedly shown interest in:

(We will keep this list updated throughout the offseason.)

MICHAEL AJAYI - PEPPERDINE WAVES

Michael Ajayi, Anton Watson

Robert Johnson/GettyImages

2023-24 stats: 17.2 points, 9.9 rebounds, 46.7/47.0/70.9 shooting splits

The most recognizable name on this list to Gonzaga fans, the 6-foot-7 wing is reportedly set to visit Spokane within “the next week or two” according to On3.com’s Joe Tipton.

Ajayi technically completed his junior season with Pepperdine, but his experience playing high-level basketball is limited. A native of Kent, Washington, Ajayi attended Pierce Community College prior to his first season of Division-I basketball at Pepperdine and was named the 2022 Northwest Athletic Conference West Region’s Most Valuable Player and the West Region’s Freshman of the Year after putting up 20.4 points and 11.3 rebounds per game. He also spent just one year playing high school varsity basketball at Kentwood High School in 2020-21.

Ajayi bursted onto the scene in Malibu, California, earning All-WCC first team honors after finishing as the league’s leading scorer and rebounder. He was also top-10 in player efficiency rating and offensive win shares.

A skilled and athletic multi-level scorer, Ajayi would likely fill in Anton Watson’s spot in the starting lineup once the fifth-year senior graduates this spring. He doesn’t have the same defensive impact as Watson, but his ability to drive and finish at the rim, pull-up from the midrange and shoot from beyond the arc would add another element to the Bulldogs’ offense that they didn’t have this season.

Ajayi is No. 6 on On3.com’s transfer portal rankings. He’s also received interest from Indiana, Kansas, Arizona, Arkansas, Baylor, UCLA and Ole Miss among others.

KANAAN CARLYLE - STANFORD CARDINAL

2023-24 stats: 11.5 points, 2.7 assists, 2.7 rebounds, 38.6/32.0/77.6 shooting splits

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound guard from Atlanta, Georgia, is looking for a new home after Stanford fired head coach Jerod Haase following a 14-18 campaign in his eighth season.

Carlyle was an honorable mention on the Pac-12 All-Freshman team after starting 16 of his 23 games played, averaging 25.7 minutes in those contests. He had a career-high 31 points against Washington State and 28 points against Arizona. Carlyle finished in double figures for scoring in 15 games and had four games with five or more assists.

A lot of those paint came from the charity stripe. Per KenPom, Carlyle drew 5.0 fouls per 40 minutes (seventh-highest in the Pac-12) and posted a 38.2% free-throw rate (12th in Pac-12).

The former four-star recruit from Overtime Elite wasn’t very efficient as a freshman, though so few first-year players are anyway. With Gonzaga's player development support, Carlyle would take a major step forward while being able to learn behind more experienced guards on the roster.

Carlyle is No. 3 on On3.com's transfer portal rankings. Per Tipton, he's also heard from Duke, Texas Tech, Arkansas, Oklahoma, UCLA and Baylor among others.

GREG GORDON - IONA

2023-24 stats: 16.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 54.8/32.6/51.6 shooting splits

Gordon has unofficially been in the transfer portal since he left the Iona program for personal reasons back in late February. At the time the 6-foot-5 junior led the Gaels in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage. Quite the start to a Division-I basketball career for someone who played their first two years at the community college level.

Gordon dominated at the NJCAA level with Dyersburg State, putting up 23.3 points and 10.6 rebounds per game while shooting 54.8% from the field.

For someone listed as a guard, Gordon's numbers reflect that of a 6-foot-10 post. It's hard to say how the rest of his 2023-24 campaign would've went if he finished the season, but based on the body of work it's clear he has a knack for scoring around the rim. Opponents would often sag off when he outside the 3-point line, allowing him to get a full head of steam on drives to the paint.

The downside of course is his lack of consistency from the outside can clog the paint for others.

Gordon is No. 58 on On3.com's transfer portal rankings. Per The Portal Report, he's also received interest from Florida State, Arkansas, Memphis, Wake Forest and Ole Miss among others.

DAKOTA LEFFEW - MOUNT ST. MARY'S

2023-24 stats: 17.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 43.0/36.5/76.5 shooting splits

Another 6-foot-5 guard from the Mid-American Athletic Conference is seeking a new home.

Leffew has showcased a steay growth pattern over his first four seasons at Mount St. Mary's. After starting his career as an unranked prospect, he came off the bench as a freshman and sophomore before taking on a starting role as a junior. That led to his breakout campaign in 2023, as he was All-MAAC first-team after leading the Mountaineers in points, field goals made, 3-point field goals, assists and minutes as a senior.

With one more year of eligibility, Leffew reportedly has quite the list of schools interested in his services. Ranked No. 25 on On3.com's transfer portal rankings, the Jonesboro (GA) product has also received interest from Maryland, Indiana, Syracuse, Villanova, BYU, Clemson and Georgia among others, according to The Portal Report.

ROGER MCFARLANE - SE LOUISIANA

2023-24 stats: 14.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, 41.7/34.1/76.4 shooting splits

The 6-foot-5, 205-pound Florida native was All-Southland second team in his third season of Division-I basketball. McFarlane started his career at Dodge City Community College in 2020, and since then he's gradually improved at SE Louisiana as his role increased over the last three seasons. He jumped from 5.8 points as a sophomore to 12.3 points as a junior before putting up 14.8 this past season with the Lions.

The Fort Lauderdale, Florida, native scored in double figures in 28 of 32 games this season, including six games with 20 or more points. He had 10 double-doubles and finished second in the Southland in rebounds per game.

McFarlane is ranked No. 134 on On3.com's transfer portal rankings. He's heard from Memphis, Florida Atlantic, Murray State, UCF and Cal among others including Gonzaga, per Tipton.