<p>SPOKANE, Wash. — Gonzaga guard Joel Ayayi declared for the NBA draft Friday and will skip his senior season.</p>
<p>The school said Ayayi will hire an agent and pursue a professional career.</p>
<p>“My four years at Gonzaga have been unforgettable and some of the most special times in my life,” Ayayi said in a news release. "I’m honored to be a Zag forever.”</p>
<p>Ayayi was a finalist for the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award this season. He averaged 12 points per game while shooting 57.5% from the field. The French native’s 6.8 rebounds per game were second on the team as Gonzaga advanced to the NCAA title game, where the Bulldogs lost to Baylor. </p>
<p>Ayayi recorded the first triple-double in program history in a win at Portland on Jan. 9. He scored all 12 of his points in the first half, grabbed 13 rebounds and dished out a career-high 14 assists. His 18 rebounds against Iowa were the most by a Bulldog guard since the program moved to Division I in 1958-59. </p>
