AJ Weston going up for a layup at Pieri Gymnasium. (Photo Courtesy Jay Ruzicka)
AJ Weston's life journey is a story of why the Dean Difference is special. Weston grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, and was raised by his mother. He considers his mother not just his mother but his best friend whom nobody can replace.
Weston grew up in a Christian household. During everything that has happened in his life, Weston has always kept a positive attitude, and he thanks God for everything that goes for him.
Weston’s love for basketball started when he was young, but he did not start playing until he attended high school at Lincoln Prep in Missouri. At Lincoln Prep, Weston was a starter and achieved several milestones. Weston was a 1,000-point scorer, First Team All-Conference, First Team All-District, North Liberty Tournament MVP, and Missouri All-Star.
During Weston’s summers in high school, he played in tournaments, particularly the AAU. Weston even had the chance to play against Arizona Wildcats guard Caleb Love.
After high school, Weston attended Pratt Community College and played for their basketball team. Going into his junior year, Weston transferred to Dean College to major in Exercise Science and play Division Three basketball.
Weston’s first weeks away from home were very tough, as he was in another state and far away from his family. Weston said” Those first couple of weeks were tough, being in a different state, environment, and place is something I will never forget but those are the moments you will look back as a start to something new."
In Weston’s second game as a Bulldog, the Bulldogs would face Holy Cross and play on ESPN. In that game, Weston scored 22 points and caught the attention of people on campus that he came here to show who he was.
Weston’s first year as a Bulldog was remarkable on so many levels. He averaged 17.3 points per game and was named the Most Valuable Player award for men's basketball.
Going into his senior year, Weston trained a lot on his game and worked on improving his footwork during the summer. Weston also completed many open-court scrimmages and drills to improve himself.
I had the opportunity to cover and interview Weston after home games and talk to him before games about game plans.
Senior Justin Hill interviewing AJ Weston postgame. (Photo Courtesy Shurm Production Videos)
During the season, Weston was named GNAC player of the week, named to the D3hoops.com team of the week, and surpassed 1,000 career college points.
Towards the end of the season, the Bulldogs were trailing a couple of games out of a playoff spot and needed to win three games to make the playoffs. In a double overtime win against Mitchell College, Weston finished with 32 points. In the next game against Rivier University, he finished again with 32 points in a triple overtime win. With Weston's stellar performances, Dean won three crucial games and advanced to the playoffs.
Weston's two-year career for the Bulldogs has given fans moments they will never forget.
Weston shared his motivation and post-college decision, stating, “I can only go as far as God allows the good, bad, and ugly. If God blesses me enough, then none of it matters. He’s already done what I am trying to do, and that is the impossible. I’m human, I'm flawed, and I put all this work into my craft. You’ll never see another person work harder and humbly."
“My plans after graduation will be in God’s plan. Overseas with aspirations of playing overseas sprinkled in."
Weston has done magnificent work for the Dean College community, in his major, for students on campus, and for his family.
Dean will miss AJ, and he will never be forgotten here on campus.