San Diego State has lengthy been identified for producing mid–main stars. After all, two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard who was twice chosen to the All-Mountain West Convention First Crew involves thoughts.
Since his departure, many Aztecs have tried to match the distinctive dominance of Leonard, who averaged a double-double of 15.5 PPG and 10.6 RPG throughout his ultimate yr at Viejas Enviornment.
This contains fellow two-time All-MWC First Crew honoree Jamaal Franklin, 2013-14 MWC Participant of the 12 months Xavier Thames, Malachi Flynn in the course of the pandemic shortened 2019-20 marketing campaign and Matt Bradley, who led this system to its first nationwide championship sport look.
Nevertheless, none have fairly been in a position to take action like graduate ahead and 2023-24 All-MWC First Crew choice Jaedon LeDee. Averaging 21.5 PPG, 8.4 RPG and 1.3 APG, he led the Aztecs to a 26-11 file this season and a subsequent Candy 16 look.
Whereas LeDee’s profession culminated with a loss to defending nationwide champions and No. 1 seed UConn at TD Backyard in Boston, Mass. final night time, it’s been a protracted journey up to now for the previous top-100 ranked prospect.
“I need to say that [yesterday’s loss] isn’t the ending we’re going to recollect, it’s the journey as a result of the journey is all the things,” San Diego State head coach Brian Dutcher stated. “I take nice pleasure right here with [LeDee, Darrion Trammell and Jay Pal] sitting subsequent to me, in the truth that they’ve received 7-2 on school basketball’s largest stage. Regardless that we’re disillusioned within the consequence of the sport, the sport is just not the journey and we embrace and love the journey we’re on collectively.”
For LeDee, that journey started at Ohio State, the place he needed to battle for minutes as a freshman regardless of arriving on campus as one of many nation’s highest touted prospects.
LeDee flashed some indicators of his star potential as he made his season debut to the tune of 16 factors and 4 boards in a win over Purdue Fort Wayne and contributed a team-leading 16 factors in a loss to Purdue.
Averaging simply 3.0 PPG and 1.7 RPG whereas taking part in 6.6 minutes per sport, LeDee seemed to switch for the primary time on the finish of the 2018-19 marketing campaign with the Buckeyes.
Previous to the 2018-19 season, LeDee transferred to hitch head coach Jamie Dixon at TCU recent off this system’s first NCAA Event look since 1998.
In Fort Price, the Houston native confirmed continued enchancment highlighted by an 11-point, four-rebound efficiency towards Oklahoma as a sophomore and later, a then-career-high of 20 factors and 11 boards over West Virginia as a junior.
Nonetheless managing simply 13.5 minutes per sport led LeDee to switch as soon as once more after his two seasons at TCU, lastly touchdown with Dutcher as a redshirt at San Diego State in 2021.
Whereas Bradley led the Aztecs to a historic 2022-23 season, LeDee performed the sixth-man position off the bench and averaged career-highs of seven.9 PPG and 5.3 RPG.
After securing the Mountain West regular-season title, LeDee was pivotal in serving to San Diego State to the 2023 MWC Championship with a double-double of 13 factors and 10 boards within the ultimate towards Utah State.
Alongside that historic 2023 NCAA Event run, he managed 12 factors and 6 boards in a Candy Sixteen win over No. 1 seed Alabama and one other 12 factors and 6 boards to assist down FAU within the Remaining 4.
Within the 2023 Nationwide Championship Recreation towards UConn, LeDee contributed seven factors in a 76-59 loss.
Sadly, LeDee’s collegiate journey got here to an finish in a really comparable vogue on Thursday: by the hands of high seeded UConn in an 82-52 loss on the NCAA Event.
Whereas it wasn’t in a Remaining 4 look and he hasn’t obtained the identical nationwide acclaim as a few of his Aztec counterparts in Leonard, Flynn, and even Bradley, LeDee is an unquestionable mid-major star.
“I knew the severity [of this matchup] and I’ve simply obtained quite a lot of coronary heart,” stated LeDee. “I’m not going to only let [UConn and sophomore forward Donovan Clingan] simply go on the market and do what they need to do, I used to be on the market competing.”
With a possibility to lastly play the principle position for this San Diego State program, LeDee improved drastically throughout the board and by no means scored under 12 factors in a contest all through the complete 2023-24 season.
After beginning the season with a double-double of 27 factors and 10 rebounds towards Cal State Fullerton, only a week later he emerged with a career-high 34 factors and 17 boards to steer a 100-97 upset of Washington.
Earlier than convention play, on the street towards Gonzaga, LeDee led the Aztecs to a season-defining 84-74 win with 20 factors, seven rebounds, and a clutch 9-for-12 from the free throw line.
To open the Mountain West slate undefeated at 3-0, LeDee managed three consecutive performances of 20+ factors to safe wins over Fresno State, UNLV, and at last, San Jose State with a 31-point, 10-rebound double-double.
“A part of [LeDee’s] outcomes final yr have been directed in direction of me as a result of I didn’t give him the liberty I’ve given him this yr,” Dutcher stated. “With the workforce we’ve got this yr, we’ve given him extra freedom and he performed nice inside that freedom.”
Regardless of receiving simply the fifth-seed on the 2024 Mountain West Championship in a really tightly contested season, LeDee carried the Aztecs all the best way to the Remaining with 34 factors and 16 boards over UNLV earlier than upsetting No. 1 Utah State behind his 22 factors.
In San Diego State’s fourth consecutive NCAA Event, LeDee took heart stage within the Spherical of 64 with 32 factors and eight rebounds to defeat UAB.
Holding off a push from Yale within the Spherical of 32, LeDee booked the Aztecs a spot within the Candy Sixteen with a game-high 26 factors to beat out the Bulldogs earlier than heading to Boston.
Falling quick towards UConn, he stored San Diego State aggressive all through with a team-leading 18 factors and eight boards to no avail towards the defending nationwide champs.
Whereas LeDee’s collegiate profession ends with a loss, it’ll be outlined by constant improvement all through, a Remaining 4 look, and now, lifting the Aztecs to a second straight Candy 16 look.
As Dutcher put it, there’s tons to be pleased with alongside a journey that spans from stints at Ohio State and TCU, to mid-major stardom at San Diego State as LeDee takes the subsequent step in his profession.
“He wasn’t egocentric,” Dutcher stated. “He shared the ball together with his teammates. He was onerous to protect, and we’re simply so pleased with how he performed for us. We want him the perfect, hopefully in a professional profession that may begin right here within the close to future.”
