Matee Ajavon was born in Liberia on May 7, 1986. She came with her mother to the United States six years later. (Her father, Ronald, continues to live in Liberia.) Her mother, Patience Wilson, is a nurse's aid in Newark, New Jersey. Ajavon was raised in Newark, and attended Malcom X Shabazz High School.

High School
Matee led her Malcolm X Shabazz High School team to back-to-back New Jersey Tournament of Champions titles (2003, 2004), which was the first girls team in state history to accomplish the feat.

She played in the 2004 McDonald's and Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-America Games with fellow Rutgers recruit Essence Carson, and was named to the Parade All-America Second Team and the USA Today Super 25 All-America Team. She played club ball with the New York Gauchos.

University
Matee attended Rutgers University, from 2004-2008, majoring in African studies. She played basketball for the Scarlet Knights under coach C. Vivian Stringer.

WNBA
Matee was selected as the #5 pick in the 2008 WNBA draft, chosen by the Houston Comets.