I'm sure you value him as a friend, too, and if he's unaware about these feelings, you may run the risk of coming off as deceitful, hanging out with him for the wrong reasons.

I wonder if it's worthwhile being honest and say something like, "I really appreciate you as my good friend. I wish we could unfriend-zone each other, since we get along so well and have a lot in common."

You never know? It'll give him an opportunity to consider, at the very least. If it's a dead NO, well, you must be pretty fun to hang out with!