Catching up with former San Diego State Aztecs basketball star Jaedon LeDee as he played in San Diego against the Clippers. 

For three seasons, Jaedon LeDee played in 79 games between Ohio State and TCU.

In those 79 games, he only started in three of them. Then, after the 2020-21 season, LeDee decided to make a move out west and transfer to San Diego State University.

In his first year with SDSU, LeDee started in one of the 39 games he played. While he only started in one of those games, the Aztecs found a way to make it to the 2024 National Championship game in Houston. On that National Championship team, LeDee averaged 7.9 pts and 5.3 rebounds a game.

The following year, LeDee was ready to step into the starter’s role, and he averaged 21.4 pts, 8.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.

Brian Dutcher helped develop LeDee into the player he is, “especially on the defensive end, that’s all we do at [San Diego] State,” LeDee said proudly.

LeDee’s development led the Aztecs to another Sweet 16 berth, where UConn would bring them down for a second straight year. LeDee’s time at San Diego State impacted him as a player and a person. LeDee keeps in touch with teammates and speaks specifically about Miles Byrd and BJ Davis, and he even talks to Nick Boyd.

At the end of the year, LeDee garnered an Associated Press’s third team award; he was an All-American National Association of Basketball Coaches’ second team and was awarded Sporting News’ second-team All-American honors. He also won the Karl Malone Award as the nation’s top power forward.

Since his time at SDSU, LeDee has been playing in the NBA G-League.

He originally signed with the Iowa Wolves, the G-League partner of the Minnesota Timberwolves. In Iowa, LeDee played in 14 games, averaging 8.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.

Recently, LeDee was traded to the Salt Lake City Stars.

The trade came as a surprise to LeDee. “No, I didn’t know. We played in Maine and flew to Memphis, and my agent called me,” LeDee said. His agent told him the news that he was going to be traded. “I left that morning …. Went back to Iowa and packed my stuff,” LeDee told EVT. He has played in five games so far for the Stars.

There has certainly been an adjustment for LeDee going from NCAA to the G-League, “The defensive adjustment wasn’t too bad. On the offensive end… just adapt to what the team wants you to do,” LeDee admits.

On Friday, February 21, he made his return to San Diego to play the Los Angeles Clippers G-League affiliate, the San Diego Clippers.

LeDee helped his team to a nine-point win with eight points and six rebounds.

Reflecting on his time in the G-League so far, he was sincere: “I’m here, and my dream is being here. I think I’m more than capable of being here.”  Regarding his long-term plans with the Salt Lake City Stars, Jaedon LeDee knows that “they have plans, but you know … we’re just going to take it game by game,” LeDee said.

After the season is over, LeDee will talk with his agent and see what the next steps are.

Maybe LeDee will follow in the path of other former Aztecs like Nathan Mensah and Matt Mitchell and play abroad, “There’s a lot of good ball and a lot of money to be made over there,” LeDee said.

Perhaps he will be like fellow former Aztec Jordan Schakel and stay in the G-League waiting for his opportunity to be called up to the NBA.

Looking at his time in the G-League, LeDee reflected that “it is what you make it, just like anything in life … it’s a blessing to play basketball,” LeDee explains.

LeDee and the Salt Lake City Stars will take on his former team, the Iowa Wolves, on Monday, March 3.

Max Montoya

A Southern California kid from San Clemente, he attended Gonzaga University and obtained a degree in sports management with minors in digital marketing and public relations. Max has been a San Diego sports fan for life.