Ajayi named West Region Most Valuable Player

Raider standout, Michael Ajayi, has been named the NWAC West Region Most Valuable Player for the 2021-22 season. The 6'5" freshman, from KentwoodHigh School (Kent, WA), was head and shoulders above the rest of the West this season. Ajayi was the Raiders' leading scorer and rebounder all season, and was among the leaders in the NWAC in scoring and rebounding. Ajayi started all 23 games for the Raiders, averaging 20.4 points per game (ranked #11 in the NWAC) and 11.3 rebounds per game (#2 in the NWAC). He shot 47.6% from the field and 78.8% from the line. Ajayishined even brighter during the Raiders' 14 game league schedule, topping the West Region in scoring and rebounding (23.5 ppg and 14.1 rpg), leading the Raiders to a 7-7 league record, and a 5th Place finish in the West.

Ajayihad a near record-breaking record in early February, coming 1 point shy of breaking the program's single game scoring record of 41 points - set by Raider Hall of Famer, Tony Adams, in the 1989-90 season - when he tallied 40 points in a 97-83 loss to Highline. Three nights later, Ajayi went off for 38 points in 97-69 win over South Puget Sound. The two game total was the most ever in back-to-back games for Pierce, and rank as the 2nd and 4th highest point totals in program history. He had a season high 26 rebounds against Centralia in the final week of the season. Ajayi tallied a double-double in all 14 league games, and scored in double figures in all but 2 games this season.

In addition to his Region MVP honors, Ajayi was selected as the West Region Freshman of the Year. This marks just the second time that a Raider has been named the region's Most Valuable Player (Michael Wright - 2007) and the region's Freshman of the Year (DJ Kerson - 2019).