BREAKING NEWS: 7-Foot-9 Center Makes History in Stunning Boston Celtics Commitment Flip
In a jaw-dropping, franchise-altering move, the basketball world has been rocked by the announcement that Ezekiel “Zeke” Ajayi, the nation’s No. 1 high school basketball prospect, has officially committed to the Boston Celtics, bypassing the expected NBA Draft process entirely in a historic leap made possible by a newly approved CBA provision for international high school talents.
But what truly sent shockwaves through the league wasn’t just who he chose — it was who he didn’t.
Ajayi, a 7-foot-9 Nigerian-American phenom, had been the crown jewel of recruiting attention for the past three years. A generational blend of size, agility, and basketball IQ, he was courted not only by the L.A. Lakers, Golden State Warriors, and Cleveland Cavaliers, but also by top-tier European clubs and endorsements promising eight-figure deals before he even touched a professional floor.
Originally presumed to be a lock for Los Angeles — where Ajayi had trained in the offseason with LeBron James and received mentorship from Anthony Davis — the landscape shifted dramatically over the last 72 hours. A source close to the situation revealed that Jayson Tatum, the face of the Celtics and 2024 Finals MVP, personally flew to Ajayi’s Houston training camp for a private, closed-door meeting. That encounter, reportedly “deeply emotional and surprisingly persuasive,” turned the tide.
> “Jayson told me Boston wasn’t just about banners,” Ajayi said during a stunning announcement at TD Garden. “It’s about legacy. And I want to build mine where legends walked.”
The commitment marks a first-of-its-kind player acquisition, bypassing the 2025 NBA Draft through a new clause in the league’s international expansion agreement, allowing players raised abroad with dual citizenship and significant non-collegiate pro experience to sign directly with NBA teams under limited conditions. Ajayi, who played two pro seasons in Spain before returning to the U.S. to finish high school, was eligible under the clause.
His decision stunned the Lakers, who had spent months building a “Future Dynasty” campaign around him, and shocked the Warriors, who had offered partial ownership options contingent upon his commitment.
But for Boston — still buzzing from their 2024 championship — this is more than a win. It’s a dynasty-level trigger.
A Glimpse at a Giant
At 7-foot-9, Ajayi is the tallest player ever signed by an NBA team. But his allure isn’t just his height — it’s his game. With a 7-foot-11 wingspan, he moves like a 6’5” guard, executes pick-and-rolls with Kyrie-level precision, and can sink threes from NBA range at a 41% clip. His high school averages? A mind-bending 32.4 points, 19.6 rebounds, 6.8 blocks, and 4.2 assists per game.
A viral highlight reel from the McDonald’s All-American Game showed him blocking a shot, sprinting coast-to-coast, euro-stepping around two defenders, and dunking — all within 7 seconds. Scouts called him “Victor Wembanyama times two.”
Celtics Future: Nuclear
Ajayi joins a Celtics core that includes Jayson Tatum (still just 27), Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White — all under contract through 2027. According to league insiders, Boston’s front office had been maneuvering for months to open a cap-cleared window for a historic signing. They just didn’t expect it to be this big — literally and figuratively.
> “This is the biggest day in Celtics basketball since we drafted Larry Bird,” team president Brad Stevens said. “We’re witnessing the beginning of something legendary.”
Ajayi will debut in the 2025 NBA Summer League next week. Tickets, once averaging $40, have already surged to $250, with scalpers calling it “the new Zion mania — but bigger.”
Whether this bold leap changes the NBA’s approach to team-building is yet to be seen. But one thing is certain:
Boston didn’t just get taller. They just got terrifying.
And to the teams left in the dust?
Welcome to Boston Celtics basketball.
