NEW ROCHELLE, NY - Iona College men's basketball head coach Rick Pitino announced the signing of Sadiku Ayo to a National Letter of Intent to play for the Gaels beginning next season. A native of Ghana in West Africa, Ayo currently attends Our Saviour Lutheran School in the Bronx and plays AAU ball for the New York Lightning.
 
"We are excited for Sadiku to join the Iona Gael program," said Rick Pitino. "Sadiku is an extremely gifted player, a tremendous athlete who can shoot it, and comes with an awesome work-ethic and attitude. We are super excited to have him in our family."
 
Ayo stands at 6-6 and is a versatile, two-way wing, who thrives at both ends of the floor. He has been hailed as a strong, mature performer with great leadership ability. On the offensive end, he has been equally successful driving to the rim or shooting from distance. Defensively he is capable of defending all 5 positions on the floor
 
As a junior at OSL, Ayo averaged 13 points, six rebounds and three steals in a COVID-19 pandemic shortened 2020-21 campaign. He helped lead his New York Lightning AAU squad to the quarterfinals at this July's EYBL Peach Jam, in North Augusta, South Carolina and earned All-Breakout honors for his performance.
 
Ayo is the Gaels' first signee for the 2022-23 campaign.  Iona currently has four graduate students who will exhaust eligibility following this season.

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