SDSU's LeDee Adds Two More All-America Honors

Courtesy of San Diego State Athletics

SAN DIEGO – San Diego State senior forward Jaedon LeDee, who has been named a second-team All-America twice in recent weeks, has added two more honors: third team from the Associated Press (AP) and honorable mention designation from the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA).

LeDee, who was named a second-team All-American by The Sporting News and Field of 68, prior to the start of last week’s 2024 Mountain West Men’s Basketball Championship, has scored in double figures in each of his 33 appearances this year and has totaled 12 double doubles, the most by an Aztec since Jamaal Franklin had 13 in the 2012-13 season.

On a national level, the 6-9, 240-pound forward started the week ranked No. 3 in free throw attempts, No. 7 in free throws, No. 10 in points, No. 12 in field goals, No. 18 in points per game, and No. 27 in offensive rebounds.

The leading scorer in the Mountain West Conference and its third leading rebounder, LeDee earned Player of the Year honors from from the media that regularly covers the league and first-team All-Mountain West honors from both the media and coaches, as well as inclusion on the 2024 Mountain West All-Tournament Team for averaging 27.0 points and 10.0 rebounds in three games in Las Vegas last week.

Heading into the 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, the Houston native is averaging 21.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and has shot 55.7 percent from the floor on the season. He led the Aztecs, in the regular season, in points (696), points per game, field goal (235), field goal attempts (422), rebounds (277), free throws (210) and free throw attempts (286). He was second in steals (39) and third in blocks (18).

His 696 points this year are a new record for an Aztec in a single season, passing Michael Cage’s record of 686 points from the 1983-84 season, a record that stood for 40 years and his 286 free throw attempts are also a single-season record moving past Marcus Slaughter, who attempted 252 in the 2005-06 season.

LeDee is one of two players in the nation to average at least 21.1 points and 8.4 rebounds while shooting at least 55.7 percent from the floor and the only player in the nation who is averaging at least 21.1 points and 8.4 rebounds while also having hit 16 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. 15 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.

No. 24 San Diego State, the 5-seed, is in preparation for its first round game at the 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament against 12-seed UAB at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane, Wash., which is scheduled to tip at 10:45 a.m. on Friday and will be broadcast TNT.