Hi everyone! I’m ZJ Buster, the Founder and Director of Arizona Elite Baseball Academy (AEBA). Baseball has been a lifelong passion of mine, and for the past 15 years, I’ve dedicated my career to coaching youth teams, managing baseball organizations, organizing competitive tournaments, and mentoring young athletes both on and off the field.

Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, I earned a scholarship to play college baseball in 2014 at Louisiana Tech University as a switch-hitting second baseman. After competing and learning at both the Division I and Junior College levels for three years, I transitioned into coaching while completing my education at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

As the son of a baseball coach, I always knew I wanted to follow in those footsteps—I just didn’t know when. That changed in 2017, when I was offered the opportunity to become an Undergraduate Student Manager under future Hall of Fame Head Coach Paul Mainieri.

My two years at LSU were invaluable. I received my bachelor’s degree during a weekend series at Arkansas—in the dining hall of the hotel we were staying at. There were stretches where the other student managers and I would spend 18 hours a day at the field and the other six in the classroom. The demand for excellence in everything we did—no matter how big or small—was understood. That’s what championship cultures are built on.

I met amazing people, learned from some of the brightest minds in the game, and witnessed LSU’s historic 2019 football national championship run during my senior year. At LSU, I was involved in every aspect of a top-tier baseball program—from operations and equipment logistics to event setup, practice planning, game-day routines, and player development.

In July 2020, I moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, to coach with the Scottsdale Dirtbags. After two incredible years working alongside great families and coaches, I launched Arizona Elite Baseball Academy—a program built on a foundation of passion, development, inclusivity, and fun. Our goal was simple: to create a player development organization, not a player collection organization.

At AEBA, we focus on transformation over transaction. Every athlete within our Elite Program is part of something bigger—no “guest players,” no shortcuts, and no empty promises. Just authentic growth, accountability, and a culture of hard work.

As AEBA has grown, so has our reach. As of 2026, we have now launched AEBA Select, which allows players from around the country and world to experience our standard of development through national tournaments and events. The mission hasn’t changed—it’s expanded. AEBA Select gives athletes the chance to compete within our culture of excellence, regardless of where they call home.

Over the last 10 years, I’ve had the honor of coaching in highly competitive tournaments across the nation. Since 2020, I’ve been fortunate to mentor over 500 families through the game of baseball—a privilege I treat with the same dedication and seriousness as coaching at the highest levels.

Our program is grounded in trust, culture, and accountability, and we’ve built something truly special that blends elite competition with strong community roots. I’m always looking for ways to elevate the experience for our athletes and their families.

At AEBA, we believe in Building Up Champions for Life.