SAN DIEGO – San Diego State senior forward Jaedon LeDee, in leading the Aztecs to a 3-0 record last week, was named the Mountain West Player of the Week earlier today and was recognized as the ESPN National Player of the Week, Andy Katz's NCAA March Madness Player of the Week and the Lute Olson National Player of the Week.
The Houston, Texas native, led the Aztecs to a 3-0 record while averaging 28.7 points, 12.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.0 steals and added a block. In three games he shot 57.1 percent from the floor (28-of-39), including 50.0 percent from the bonus distance (2-of-4) and 84.8 percent from the line (28-of-33). In addition, he dished out seven assists, had six steals and a block.
In the three games: versus Long Beach State on Tuesday, and then against Saint Mary's and Washington at the Continental Tires Main Event, on Friday and Sunday, respectively, he totaled 86 points, marking the first time an Aztecs has amassed 80 or more points since Matt Bradley totaled 80 points in a three-game stretch at the end of the 2021-22 season. LeDee's 86 points are the most since Jamaal Franklin scored 84 in three games from Feb. 25-March 3, 2012.
The Aztecs started the week at Steve Fisher Court at Viejas Arena, where LeDee led all scorers with a then career-high 27 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field, hit his only three-point attempt and sank 10-of-10 free throws. He snatched 11 rebounds, added three steals and two assists on the way to an 88-76 win. It was his first of two double doubles for the week.
On Friday night, in an Aztec pounding of Saint Mary's in its opening game at the Continental Tire Main Event, LeDee recorded a somewhat pedestrian stat line of a game-high 25 points and eight rebounds. He was successful on 10-of-17 shots, including a 1-of-2 from beyond the arc and sank 4-of-5 free throws. He was dominant in the second half, totaling 19 of his 25 points as the Aztecs shot 59.4 percent (19-of-32) and turned a one-point halftime lead into a 79-54 destruction of the Gaels.
Slightly more than 48 hours later, San Diego State played Washington in the championship game at the Continental Tire Main Event. In a 100-97 overtime thriller against the Huskies, he became the first Aztec since at least the start of the 1996-97 season to total at least 34 points and 17 rebounds in a game and is the only player in Mountain West history to do it and shoot at least 50.0 percent from the field. It was his second double double of the week. He shot 50.0 percent from the field (10-of-20) and 77.8 percent from the charity stripe (14-of-18), with three assists, a steal and a block. His 34 points against the Huskies marked the first time that an Aztec had finished a game with 34 points since Aerick Sanders versus Portland on Dec. 31, 2003.
This is the first time LeDee has been recognized as player of the week by these outlets and it is the first time an Aztec has been recognized by them this year.
San Diego State next plays against California at 4 p.m. PT on Saturday, November 25, at the SoCal Showcase in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. The game will be carried on the Mountain West Network.