Joel Ayayi
Jersey: 11 Position: G
Age: 19 Height: 6-5 Weight: 180
Hometown: Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
Birthdate: March 5, 2000
Bio: First name pronounced JOE-el; last name pronounced EYE-yigh-YEE. Product of France’s national institute of sport (INSEP). Averaged 11.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists for France in FIBA U-16 European Championships. Follows in footsteps of former Zags from France, including Ronny Turiaf, Mamery Diallo, Mathis Keita and Guy Landry Edi, and current teammate Killian Tillie. Picked Gonzaga over Georgia Tech. Older sister, Valeriane, played in the WNBA for San Antonio in 2015 and is currently a member of French national team. Has dual citizenship (France and Benin). Younger brother Gerald, 17, plays professionally in France’s third division. Father, who is from Benin, played professionally in France and on Benin national team.
Fr Scouting report: Tall, rangy, speedy guard comes into the season with additional strength and weight – added 12 pounds since arriving on campus – following redshirt season. Averaged 15.7 points and led France to a third-place finish in the FIBA U18 European Championships last summer. Should compete for playing time at well-stocked guard position. Possesses a team-first attitude, strong floater and rebounds well. Grabbed seven boards and scored two points in Kraziness in the Kennel scrimmage. Only 18 years old (was just 17 when he enrolled) and is still developing physically.
Fr. Scouting report: Redshirted. Played nine minutes in exhibition win over College of Idaho.
Recent news
- Story: Gonzaga’s Oumar Ballo and Joel Ayayi make All-Star Five at FIBA World Cup
- Story: Gonzaga commit Oumar Ballo powers Mali past France, into FIBA U19 World Cup title game
- Story: Incoming Gonzaga recruit Oumar Ballo keeps Mali rolling at FIBA U19 World Cup
- Story: Gonzaga’s Filip Petrusev helps Serbia stay unbeaten at FIBA U19 World Cup
- Story: Gonzaga’s Joel Ayayi scores 33 points in France’s loss to Serbia, Filip Petrusev
Photo gallery
Career Stats
| Per Game | Team | G | GS | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TOPG | PFPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
| 18-19 | Gonz | 22 | 0 | 5.5 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.4 | .552 | .273 | .286 |
| Career | 22 | 0 | 5.5 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.4 | .552 | .273 | .286 | |
| Totals | Team | G | GS | Min | FGM | FGA | 3PM | 3PA | FTM | FTA | OR | REB | A | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | Pts |
| 18-19 | Gonz | 22 | 0 | 122 | 16 | 29 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 31 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 37 |
| Career | 22 | 0 | 122 | 16 | 29 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 31 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 37 | |
Game Logs
| Date | Opp | Result | Min | FGM | FGA | 3PM | 3PA | FTM | FTA | OR | REB | A | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | Pts |
| 11/6 | IdaSt | W 120-79 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 11/10 | TxSo | W 104-67 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 11/15 | TexA&M | W 94-71 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11/26 | NDakSt | W 102-60 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 12/15 | @UNC | L 90-103 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12/18 | Tx-Ar | W 89-55 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 12/21 | Denver | W 101-40 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| 12/28 | NortAL | W 96-51 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 12/31 | CS-Bk | W 89-54 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 1/5 | SantaC | W 91-48 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| 1/10 | Pac | W 67-36 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1/17 | LyMnt | W 73-55 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1/19 | @Por | W 89-66 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1/24 | @SantaC | W 98-39 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 1/31 | @BYU | W 93-63 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2/7 | SanFr | W 92-62 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2/9 | StMry | W 94-46 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2/21 | Pepper | W 92-64 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2/23 | BYU | W 102-68 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2/28 | @Pac | W 86-66 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 3/2 | @StMry | W 69-55 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3/11 | Pepper | W 100-74 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
