Men's Basketball

Jaedon LeDee Named a The Sporting News All-America

Jaedon LeDee Named a The Sporting News All-AmericaJaedon LeDee Named a The Sporting News All-America

SAN DIEGO – Jaedon LeDee, a San Diego State men's basketball senior forward, has been named a second-team 2023-24 All-America by The Sporting News. The organization announced its annual All-America teams on Tuesday morning.
 
This is the second consecutive day LeDee has been honored as an All-American, receiving the designation yesterday from Fieldof68.com.
 
LeDee has scored in double figures in each of his 30 appearances this year and has totaled 11 double doubles, matching Jalen McDaniels (11 in 2018-19) for the most double doubles by an Aztec since Jamaal Franklin had 13 in the 2012-13 season.
 
On a national level, the 6-9, 240-pound forward starts the week ranked No. 8 in free throw attempts, No. 11 in free throws, No. 28 in points per game, No. 31 in total points and No. 35 in field goals, and offensive rebounds.
 
The leading scorer in the Mountain West Conference (20.5 points per game) and its third leading rebounder (8.2 per game), LeDee earned Player of the Year and first-team All-Mountain West honors on Monday from the media that regularly cover the league.
 
Heading into this week's Mountain West Conference Tournament, the Houston native is one of two players in the nation to average at least 20.5 points and 8.2 rebounds while shooting at least 55.7 percent from the floor and the only player in the nation who is averaging at least 20.5 points and 8.2 rebounds while also having hit 14 3-pointers. In addition, he is the second Division I player over the last 10 seasons to score 20-plus points on at least 55.0 percent shooting in the first five games of a season, joining Obi Toppin in 2019-20 who did it on his way to the 2020 John R. Wooden Award.
 
LeDee put the nation on notice in the second week of the season, when in three games concluding at the Continental Tire Main Event, he averaged 28.7 points, 12.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.0 steals and added a block. In the 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.
 
For his efforts, he was named the Continental Tire Main Event Most Valuable Player, a tournament that featured the Aztecs handing No. 21 Saint Mary's a 79-54 drubbing as well as an overtime win against Washington. Following his MVP performance, he was chosen as ESPN National Player of the Week as well as Lute Olson and NCAA March Madness Player of the Week and garnered his first of two Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week designations.
 
LeDee finished the regular season leading San Diego State in points (615) and points per game. His point total ranks fifth for the program in a single-season and his 20.5 points per game rank No. 4 in the single-season list. In addition, he tops the squad in minutes as well as offensive, defensive and total rebounds. He is second in steals and blocks. 

Last week, the two-time Mountain West Player of the Week honoree was named a finalist for the Karl Malone Award, for the top power forward in the nation, and earned inclusion on the John R. Wooden Award national ballot for the national player of the year.
 
San Diego State is in preparation for its quarterfinal game at the Mountain West Tournament against UNLV which is scheduled to tip at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.