Indiana Among High-Major Suitors For Pepperdine Transfer Michael Ajayi

Indiana has reportedly been in contact with Pepperdine transfer Michael Ajayi, who averaged 17.2 points, 9.9 rebounds and shot 47% from the 3-point line as a junior in 2023-24.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The college basketball transfer portal officially opened Monday, and Indiana will need to add several transfers to fill the 2024-25 roster. 

One player drawing interest from some of the top programs in the nation is Pepperdine transfer Michael Ajayi. Listed as a 6-foot-7, 220-pound guard/forward, Ajayi averaged 17.2 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game as a junior in 2023-24. 

He shot 47% on 83 attempts from the 3-point line and 70.9% from the free throw line. Ajayi started all 33 games and played 34.7 minutes per game as the leading scorer and rebounder for a 13-20 Pepperdine program that fired coach Lorenzo Romar. Ajayi was one of 10 players to make the All-WCC first team in 2023-24.

On3's Joe Tipton reported Monday that Ajayi has heard from Indiana, Kansas, Arizona, Arkansas, Baylor, Gonzaga, UCLA, Virginia, Ole Miss, USC and Xavier, among others.

Check out Ajayi's highlights below.

Ajayi has one year of eligibility remaining. After attending Kentwood High School in Covington, Wash., Ajayi began his college career with the Pierce College Raiders, a community college program in Puyallup, Wash., where he played two seasons. In 2022-23, Ajayi averaged 22.7 points, shot 47.7% from the field and 36% from the 3-point line. He started 27 games and averaged 34.2 minutes per game. 

Indiana is set to experience some roster turnover this offseason, as Xavier Johnson and Anthony Walker will be out of eligibility. Center Kel'el Ware is currently projected to be a first-round NBA Draft pick, and it's reasonable to expect players at any program to enter the transfer portal nowadays.

Because Indiana left a scholarship open in 2023-24, it will have at least three scholarships to fill heading into next season. Indiana recently lost its only commitment in the 2024 high school recruiting class, as five-star small forward Liam McNeeley requested release from his national letter of intent. That will force coach Mike Woodson to look to the transfer portal or other high school decommitments to complete the 2024-25 roster. 

Pepperdine Waves guard Michael Ajayi (1) is defended by Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Nolan Hickman (11) in the second half at Firestone Fieldhouse.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

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