I know this guy likes me but I don't like him. Please help?

We met a year ago and we see each other all the time now because we know the same people. He likes asking me for hugs. He'd tell me, "Give me a hug", you know, with his arms doing that hugging motion, and I would give him a hug, because I'm like that. I can't really say no to people, and at first I was being friendly to him. But I still had my doubts and I had an idea that he liked me. So I would ask him, "Why do you want me to give you a hug?" He said "because we're friends" and so I believed him and gave him hugs. Then someone told me that he actually likes me. He doesn't know that I know, but now he keeps asking me for a hug and I feel uncomfortable and I go all my way to avoid him, but he follows me around--and I see it now. How this guy does like me. It's making me super uncomfortable, but I still regard him as my friend. But I do NOT want to give him a hug or make give him the wrong idea. How do I tell him "no" without hurting his feelings. Because I will still see this guy every time I hang out with my friends and I don't want it to be awkward between us after. Please help. I'm not normally one who would give it straight to people.