Gonzaga transfer portal’s top objectives are Michael Ajayi and Kanaan Carlyle.

The Gonzaga Bulldogs have been closely monitoring the enormous number of names that have been placed into the transfer portal since Selection Sunday concluded, as they continue to pursue another long run at the NCAA Tournament.

According to 247Sports, more than 650 players have accessed the portal since March 18, and before it formally closes on May 1, there will probably be more. Players that are qualified to graduate and access the portal at any time as a “grad transfer” are not included in that timeframe. Every player on a team that sacked its head coach also gets access to the portal for 30 days after the firing; this timeframe does not have to run from March 18 to May 1.

It goes without saying that during the next weeks and into the offseason, there will be a lot of change. The Zags are allegedly interested in the following transfer portal targets, after signing Graham Ike, Ryan Nembhard, and Steele Venters previous offseason:

MICHAEL AJAYI – PEPPERDINE WAVES

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

The 6-foot-7 wing, who is probably the most well-known name on this list to Gonzaga supporters, is supposedly coming to Spokane “in the next week or two,” according to Joe Tipton of On3.com.

Although Ajayi technically finished his junior year at Pepperdine, he has little experience playing at a high level. Ajayi, a native of Kent, Washington, attended Pierce Community College before playing his first Division I basketball season at Pepperdine. He finished 2022 as the West Region’s Most Valuable Player and the West Region’s Freshman of the Year in the Northwest Athletic Conference, averaging 20.4 points and 11.3 rebounds per game. Additionally, in 2020–21, he played varsity basketball for just one year at Kentwood High School.

Ajayi made his debut in Malibu, California, where he finished as the league’s top scorer and rebounder, earning a spot on the All-WCC first team. In terms of offensive win shares and player efficiency rating, he ranked in the top ten.

Ajayi, a multi-level scorer with skill and athleticism, would probably take Anton Watson’s place in the starting lineup after the fifth-year senior graduates this spring. Although he doesn’t have Watson’s defensive effect, the Bulldogs’ attack would gain something extra with his ability to drive to the hoop, finish at the rim, pull up from the midrange, and shoot beyond the arc.

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

Gordon left the Iona program in late February for personal reasons, and since then, he has been informally involved in the transfer portal. The 6-foot-5 junior was leading the Gaels in field goal percentage, scoring, and rebounds at the moment. For someone who played their first two years of college basketball at the community college level, this is quite the start to a Division-I basketball career.

When Gordon played for Dyersburg State in the NJCAA, he was unstoppable. He averaged 23.3 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 54.8% from the field per game.

Gordon’s statistics are consistent with a 6-foot-10 post, despite his status as a guard. Although it’s difficult to predict how his 2023–24 campaign would have unfolded had he completed the season, it’s evident from his body of work that 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.

Of course, the drawback is that his inconsistent outside painting can cause other people’s paint to become clogged.

On3.com’s transfer portal rankings have Gordon at No. 58. The Portal Report states that, in addition to other schools, Florida State, Arkansas, Memphis, Wake Forest, and Ole Miss have expressed interest in him.

DAKOTA LEFFEW – MOUNT ST. MARY’S

A different Mid-American Athletic Conference guard, standing six feet five, is looking for a new team.

Leffew’s first four seasons at Mount St. Mary’s have shown a steady growth pattern. He began his career as an unranked prospect and played mostly off the bench in his freshman and sophomore seasons until moving into the starting lineup in his junior year. That culminated to his breakout performance in 2023, when he earned All-MAAC first-team after leading the Mountaineers in points, field goals made, 3-point field goals, assists and minutes as a senior.

Leffew apparently has a long list of schools interested in hiring him, and he still has one more year of eligibility. According to The Portal Report, the Jonesboro, Georgia product, ranked No. 25 on On3.com’s transfer portal rankings, has drawn interest from a number of universities, including Maryland, Indiana, Syracuse, Villanova, BYU, Clemson, and Georgia.

ROGER MCFARLANE – SE LOUISIANA