Rutgers junior Matee Ajavon (Newark, NJ) is one of 25 student-athletes named to the preseason watch list for the 2007 Wade Trophy, which is presented annually by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association to the national player of the year.
The 5-8 guard averaged 12.6 points and team bests of 4.5 assists and 2.6 steals per game as a sophomore last season. A member of the All-BIG EAST First Team, Ajavon was a preseason candidate for the 2005-2006 Naismith National Player of the Year Award.
As a rookie during the 2004-2005 campaign, Ajavon averaged 12.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and team highs of 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals per contest. Named the BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, she earned a spot on the All-BIG EAST Second Team and the NCAA Tournament All-Regional Team after helping to lead RU to the Elite Eight in Philadelphia.
Rutgers will return six letterwinners and three starters from a 2005-2006 squad that posted a 27-5 overall record, advancing to the regional semifinals of the 2006 NCAA Tournament. The Scarlet Knights registered a perfect 16-0 mark in BIG EAST Conference play to win their second straight outright BIG EAST regular-season crown, and finished ninth in both final major polls.