Note #033: Michael Ajayi (True Bulldog)
Former Pepperdine, Gonzaga, and Butler men's basketball player Michael Ajayi has exhausted his college eligibility, declaring for the 2026 NBA Draft.
As a graduate senior in 2025-26 for the (Butler) Bulldogs, the 6'7" hybrid averaged 16.4 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 3.2 APG, and 1.1 SPG (32 GP, 33.6 MP/G).
Since 1947-48, there have been 13 other individual seasons, besides Ajayi's, where an NCAA Division I men's player averaged 16+ PPG, 11+ RPG, 3+ APG, and 1+ SPG:
Seniors
1. Yaxel Lendeborg (2024-25) - 17.7 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.7 SPG (37 GP, 33.6 MP/G)
2. David West (2002-03) - 20.1 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.3 SPG (32 GP, 36.5 MP/G)
3. Adam Sonn (2002-03) - 16.1 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.1 SPG (29 GP, 32.4 MP/G)
4. Adam Keefe (1991-92) - 25.3 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.7 SPG (29 GP, 37.2 MP/G)
5. Lionel Simmons (1989-90) - 26.5 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.9 SPG (32 GP, 38.1 MP/G)
6. Ron Harper (1985-86) - 24.4 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 4.3 APG, 3.3 SPG (31 GP, 36.9 MP/G)
7. Carey Scurry (1984-85) - 21.1 PPG, 14.1 RPG, 3.1 APG, 2.9 SPG (28 GP)
8. Larry Bird (1978-79) - 28.6 PPG, 14.9 RPG, 5.5 APG, 2.5 SPG (34 GP)
Juniors
9. Billy Owens (1990-91) - 23.3 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 3.5 APG, 2.4 SPG (32 GP, 38.0 MP/G)
10. Lionel Simmons (1988-89) - 28.4 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.7 SPG (32 GP, 38.9 MP/G)
11. Larry Bird (1977-78) - 30.0 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 3.9 APG, 2.4 SPG (32 GP)
Sophomores
12. Larry Bird (1976-77) - 32.8 PPG, 13.3 RPG, 4.4 APG, 2.8 SPG (28 GP, 36.9 MP/G)
Freshmen
13. Ben Simmons (2015-16) - 19.2 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 4.8 APG, 2.0 SPG (33 GP, 34.9 MP/G)
Yes, Bird met this per game criteria in three separate seasons! And Lionel Simmons met it twice.
Lendeborg, like Ajayi, is also a 2026 NBA Draft entrant.
FWIW, all above (including Ajayi) averaged 0.5+ BPG as well.
Also, to note, Ajayi shot 171/346 from 2 (49.4 2P%) and 18/69 from 3 (26.1 3P%) in 2025-26.
Across his three Division I seasons (he also played two JUCO seasons), Ajayi shot 408/835 from 2 (48.9 2P%) and 65/196 from 3 (33.2 3P%). More on this later...
Lastly, no one in 2025-26 averaged 16+ PPG, 11+ RPG, and 3+ APG like Ajayi.
Two others that season averaged 16+ PPG, 11+ RPG and 1+ SPG like him:
1. Hannes Steinbach - 18.5 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 1.1 SPG (30 GP, 34.6 MP/G)
2. Delrecco Gillespie - 17.7 PPG, 11.3 RPG, 1.0 SPG (34 GP, 32.2 MP/G)
Steinbach, referenced in Note #027 on new Gonzaga center Massamba Diop, is also a 2026 NBA Draft entrant.
Only one additional player in 2025-26 averaged 16+ PPG and 11+ RPG:
Justin Neely - 17.9 PPG, 11.5 RPG (34 GP, 32.3 MP/G)
Ajayi, Gillespie, and Neely were all seniors. Steinbach was a freshman.
Lionel Simmons has been referenced four times now:
Note #024 (Gavin Doty) / Note #028 (Christian Anderson) / Note #030 (Christian Bliss)
Ben Simmons too:
Note #003 (Keaton Wagler) / Note #010 (Alex Wilkins) / Note #020 (Jalan Haralson)
And we say hello to Harper again (Note #019 on Allen Graves, another 2026 NBA Draft declarant).
Last but certainly not least, Bird was seen in #024 on Doty plus Note #026 on Nolan Minessale.