Joel Ayayi (Joe-el Uh-yah-yi) was the key glue guy of the nearly-unbeaten Gonzaga team, playing point and shooting guard while taking on defensive duties of a three. A native of Bordeaux, France, Ayayi comes from a basketball family - his father played professionally in France and his sister, Valériane Vukosavljeviu0107 (née Ayayi) represented France at the Olympics and played in the WBNA. Ayayi developed over the course of a four year college career (not including a redshirt freshman year at age 17), helping them team in little ways all over the court. It should be noted that his numbers could have been more impressive if he was not the secondary playmaker and third or fourth offensive option due to sharing the backcourt with potential top-5 pick Jalen Suggs, as well as likely lottery pick Corey Kispert, and future lottery pick Drew Timme, and Gonzaga sixth man and potential future draft pick Andrew Nembhard.
2021 NBA Draft Coverage: Joel Ayayi
