MIAMI (Apr. 20, 2022) - FIU women's basketball head coach Jesyka Burks-Wiley announced the latest addition to the program's 2022 recruiting class on Wednesday, with the signing of forward transfer Ajae Yoakum from Eastern Arizona College (EAC).

"We are ecstatic to have Ajae join our FIU family," said Coach Burks-Wiley. "On the court she is an incredibly hard working versatile forward that can hurt you inside or out, but still has a very high ceiling which is exciting. Off the court, she is an awesome young lady with a heart of gold that truly fits our culture and the direction our program is headed!"

Yoakum lands at FIU as an incoming junior with three years of playing eligibility left, after spending two seasons at EAC including the shortened COVID season. In her sophomore season at EAC in 2021-22, Yoakum earned an NJCAA Division I All-American Honorable Mention nod. The versatile forward is a West Coast native hailing from Portland, Oregon.

"The coaching staff at FIU is amazing," said Yoakum. "I know I will be playing for a head coach who is going to push me and hold me to a high standard while also helping me develop. That's what I was looking for in my new coach, while also being surrounded by a good group of girls. I'm extremely excited to join my new FIU family!"

Yoakum becomes the third member signed to FIU's 2022 recruiting class, joining senior guard transfer Kaliah Henderson from Saint Joseph's University (SJU) and incoming junior shooting guard Sariana Rodriguez from Florida SouthWestern (FSW).

AJAE YOAKUM | F | 6-0 | Jr. | PORTLAND, OR | EASTERN ARIZONA COLLEGE
Over 32 games in two seasons at EAC, Yoakum averaged a total of 11.6 points per game on 52 percent shooting from the field and 44 percent from beyond the arc, while hauling in 5.9 rebounds per game and dishing one 1.3 assists.

In her sophomore season at EAC in 2021-22, Yoakum earned All-AACAC First Team and also received a First Team All-Region nod. Yoakum also earned a 2021-22 NJCAA DI All-American Honorable Mention nod at the end of the season and was ranked No. 15 in the World Exposure Report JUCO Top 100 on Nov. 1, 2021.

During the shortened 2020-21 COVID season, Yoakum helped the EAC Monsters win the NJCAA Region 1 Championshipas and earn a trip to the NJCAA DI National Tournament. Yoakum garnered All-AACAC Second Team and All-Region Second Team for the 2020-21 campaign as a freshman. Following the 2020-21 season, Yoakum participated in the 2021 JUCO Top-40 event over the summer, held to feature the best 40 JUCO freshmen in the country.

Yoakum played high school ball for four years at Benson Polytechnic High School and posted averages of 24 ppg, 7.1 rpg, and 4.0 apg during her final season in 2019-20. As a senior at Benson HS, Yoakum earned Portland Interscholastic League (PIL) Co-Player of the Year, as well as PIL First Team honors. In her junior season, Yoakum helped her squad win the 2019 6A Girls Basketball State Championship while contributing 13 points and eight rebounds in the title contest. 

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