Student-Athlete A. J. Cajuste Outstanding Performance Recognized by IRSC During May District Board of Trustee Meeting

May 26, 2022 Robert Lane

During the Indian River State College (IRSC) District Board of Trustees meeting held on Tuesday, May 24 at the IRSC Chastain Campus in Stuart, IRSC Men’s Basketball Team member A.J. Cajuste was honored for his numerous outstanding accomplishments as a Pioneer.

Highest among the accolades, the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Basketball Coaches Association (NABC) chose Cajuste to participate in All-Star Game held in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 14. Cajuste was one of only 24 junior college sophomores chosen to participate in the game.

"I'm so proud of A.J. for his selection to play on the Coaches’ All-America Basketball Team. It is quite an honor and an excellent way to close out an illustrious career at Indian River,” proudly commented Charlie Wilson, IRSC Head Basketball Coach. “The rich history of the IRSC Men’s Basketball program has a long list of high-level student athletes, and for three years A.J. Cajuste has been a dedicated student-athlete on and off the court. His success is a result of that dedication and hard work. He will go down as one of the most accomplished to ever put on our uniform.”

He has helped our program reach heights that we have never before reached. I am thankful he took a chance on The River. I am so excited to watch AJ help Stephen F. Austin University get back to the NCAA Tournament.”

The honor was just one of the many Cajuste garnered this season. Additional recognitions include selection to the NJCAA Division I All-American First Team; NJCAA Region 8 Player of the Year; Southern Conference Player of the Year; NJCAA Region 8 All-State; and he was a Southern Conference 1 Team selection. The 6'1" sophomore point guard from Boca Raton, Florida, led the IRSC Men's Basketball Team to one of their finest seasons in school history. The team compiled a 28-5 overall record, a third straight Southern Conference Title, and back-to-back trips to the NJCAA National Tournament.

Cajuste returned to IRSC for his Covid sophomore season and quickly showed off his hard work during the off-season with a 19.5-point average per game—which ranked him second in Florida—Cajuste dished out 7.1 assists per game which led the state. During his three years as a Pioneer, he scored 1,039 points and handed out 455 assists while helping his team to an overall 70-17 record.

Cajuste has signed to play NCAA Division I basketball for Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas, led by Head Coach Kyle Keller. Indian River State College congratulates A.J. Cajuste for his outstanding accomplishments as a trailblazing Pioneer this season!