Duquesne University Athletics

Entered the transfer portal in the spring of 2022.

Leon Ayers III stats at Mercer

Former junior college All-American helped Mercer to the Southern Conference Tournament championship game in 2020-21 ... shot .521 from the field in his one season with the Bears ... earned a spot on the 2021 SoCon All-Tournament Team ... scored 1,196 points in his two seasons at Henry Ford College in Dearborn, Mich. prior to enrolling at Mercer.

As a Junior at Duquesne (2021-22)

• Played in 27 games with 14 starts.
• Scored in double digits 13 times with four 20-point games.
• Totaled a career-high 24 points, including 19 in the second half, of the win vs. UC Irvine in Akron.
• Posted 23 points in back-to-back games vs. Bradley and American.
• Was the first Duke to post three-straight 20-point games (23 vs. Bradley, 23 vs. American & 20 vs. Bowling Green) since Eric Williams Jr. in March of 2019.
• Had four steals in early-season games vs. Northeastern and Bradley.
• Began the year 2-of-20 from the 3-point arc, before breaking out with a 3-of-6 performance from deep in a 15-point outing vs. Colorado at the Paradise Jam.
• Averaged 14.7 ppg. and 2.7 spg. in three games off the bench at the Paradise Jam.
• Had 23 points, seven rebounds and four steals vs. Bradley and followed that with 23 points and six boards vs. American to earn A-10 Player of the Week honors on Nov. 29. Shot .560 from the field and .941 from the line (16-of-17) in the two games.
• Added six rebounds and four assists and went 8-of-8 from the line in his 24-point game vs. UC Irvine.
• Came off the bench to score a team-high 14 points vs. Richmond.
• Averaged 7.6 ppg. on .359 shooting in A-10 play.
• Shot .833 from the foul line.
• Did not play in the final three games of the season.

At Mercer (2020-21)

• Averaged 12.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game as one of four players to see action in all 29 of 18-11 Mercer’s games in 2020-21.
• Shot .521 from the field, .390 from 3-point (30-of-77) and .738 from the foul line.
• Came off the bench 22 times with seven starts.
• Led the team with 138 field goals in 23.5 minutes per game.
• Averaged 15.8 points per game off the bench in earning a spot on the 2021 Southern Conference All-Tournament Team.
• Scored at least 14 points in every game while shooting .545 in helping Mercer to the school’s first SoCon tourney championship game appearance in 2021. The Bears defeated Samford, Wofford and VMI prior to a losing to UNC Greensboro in the title game.
• Scored a season-high 23 points in 23 minutes off the bench in an 83-63 win at The Citadel.
• Scored in double digits 20 times.
• Played for former Duquesne assistant Greg Gary (2008 & 2011 under Ron Everhart) at Mercer.

Before Mercer

• Played two seasons at Henry Ford College in Dearborn, Mich.where he scored 1,196 points in 62 games (60 starts).
• Was a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Second Team All-American as a sophomore when he averaged 21.7 points, 8.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game in leading the Hawks to an 18-12 record.
• Helped HFC to the NJCAA Great Lakes East District Quarterfinals as a sophomore.
• His 21.7 points per game in his final season ranked 17th in the NJCAA.
• Hit nine 3-pointers in scoring a career-high 48 points in a 93-78 win over Macomb as a sophomore.
• Led the Hawks to a 23-9 record and Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA) championship as a freshman when he averaged 17.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.
• Scored a game-high 28 points in a NJCAA District 10 Championship game loss to St. Clair County.
• Averaged 17.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game as a senior at Troy (Mich.) High School.

 
Personal

• Originally planned to attend Green Bay before a coaching change led him to reopen his recruitment and commit to Mercer.
• Major: communication studies.
• Date of birth: 4/11/00.

High Games at Mercer
Points - 23, at The Citadel (Jr.)
Rebounds - 9, Georgia State (Jr.)
3-Pointers - 4, UNC Greensboro (Jr.)
Assists - 5, 2x, Samford (Jr.) last
Steals - 4, Wofford (Jr.)
Blocks - 2, VMI (Jr.)
Minutes - 33, 3x, at Stamford (Jr.) last

Superlatives at Mercer
Double-Digit Scoring Games - 20 (20 Jr.)
20-Point Games - 1 (1 Jr.)
5-Assist Games - 2 (2 Jr.)
Three or more 3-Pointers - 2 (2 Jr.)