Jaedon LeDee Bio
Jaedon Herbert LeDee is an American professional basketball player who most recently played for Skyliners Frankfurt of the German Bundesliga. He played college basketball for the Ohio State Buckeyes, the TCU Horned Frogs, and the San Diego State Aztecs, developing into one of the top power forwards in the country. After going undrafted in the 2024 NBA draft, he began his professional career with the Iowa Wolves and has since built a strong presence in the global basketball landscape.
Early Life and Background
Jaedon Herbert LeDee was born on July 25, 1999, in Houston, Texas, in the United States. He grew up in the Houston area and attended The Kinkaid School, a well-known private school located in Piney Point Village, Texas. During his high school years, LeDee experienced a major growth spurt, gaining seven inches in height. That physical transformation reshaped his role on the court, as he moved from playing point guard to operating in the frontcourt.
LeDee’s high school development drew attention from several college programs, and he ultimately chose to begin his college career at Ohio State. His basketball foundation, built during his years in Houston and refined at The Kinkaid School, prepared him for the demands of Division I competition. Listed at 6 ft 7 in and around 242 lb, he developed the frame of a modern power forward and learned to use his size against older competition.
Path to Basketball
LeDee’s path to professional basketball began with a single season at Ohio State, where he played as a freshman for the Buckeyes during the 2018-19 season. After that year, he decided to transfer and joined the TCU Horned Frogs, where he spent two seasons. At TCU, he averaged 4.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, often being asked to play out of position at center, which limited his production and growth.
Dissatisfied with his lack of playing time, LeDee entered the transfer portal again and moved to San Diego State. Because of NCAA transfer rules, he had to sit out a season before taking the court for the Aztecs. Once eligible, he quickly became a key rotation player and helped lead San Diego State to new heights, including a Mountain West Conference regular season title, a conference tournament crown, and a memorable run to the national championship game.
Jaedon LeDee Career
Early Career (2024-2025)
After declaring for the 2023 NBA draft without hiring an agent, LeDee withdrew and returned to San Diego State for his fifth and final season of eligibility. That decision proved defining, as he broke out as a starter and became the centerpiece of the Aztecs offense. He led the Mountain West Conference in field goal attempts, field goals made, free throw attempts, free throws made, total points, and points per game, while also setting multiple San Diego State single-season records for points, field goals, free throws, and combined points, rebounds, and assists.
His senior campaign also featured tournament success, as he led the Aztecs to the Continental Tire Main Event title in November 2023 and was named Most Valuable Player of that event. The Aztecs reached the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 before falling to eventual champion UConn. LeDee finished the year as a First-team All-Mountain West selection, the Conference Player of the Year according to the conference media, and a national All-American.
Professional Breakthrough (2024-Present)
LeDee entered the 2024 NBA draft but went undrafted, which did not slow his professional ascent. He joined the Minnesota Timberwolves for the 2024 NBA Summer League and signed with the team in September 2024, but was waived in early October. He quickly landed with the Iowa Wolves of the NBA G League, where he continued to showcase his scoring ability and physical presence in the frontcourt.
On February 2, 2025, LeDee was traded to the Salt Lake City Stars in exchange for Babacar Sané, gaining a fresh opportunity in another G League environment. In June 2025, the Noblesville Boom acquired him and a first-round pick from the Stars in exchange for Cameron McGriff. Shortly thereafter, on July 1, 2025, the Skyliners Frankfurt acquired LeDee for the 2025-26 season, sending him to the EasyCredit BBL in Germany and marking his first full-season contract with a top European club.
Playing Style and Strengths
LeDee plays the power forward position and uses his 6 ft 7 in frame and 242 lb build to overpower defenders in the paint. He is at his most effective as a scorer near the basket, where his efficiency led the Mountain West Conference in field goal shooting volume during his final college season. He also showed a reliable free throw stroke, leading his conference in attempts and makes, and contributed on the glass at a high level. His combination of size, physicality, and finishing ability made him one of the most productive frontcourt players in college basketball in 2023-24.
Notable Events and Milestones
The defining milestone of LeDee’s career came on April 6, 2024, when he was named by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as the winner of the 2024 Karl Malone Award, given to the best power forward in college basketball. He became the first player in San Diego State history to win the award. He was also named a Second-team All-American by the NABC and The Sporting News, a Third-team All-American by the Associated Press, and a John R. Wooden Award All-American, cementing his place among the elite big men of his class.
Jaedon LeDee Career Wins
LeDee’s win resume is anchored by his individual college accolades and his team successes at San Diego State. The Aztecs captured the Mountain West Conference regular season and tournament championships in 2022-23, and LeDee was named the Most Valuable Player of the Continental Tire Main Event in November 2023. He also earned Mountain West Conference Player of the Year honors from the conference media and was a First-team All-Mountain West selection in 2023-24.
NCAA Highlights
During his time with the San Diego State Aztecs, LeDee played a leading role in a run to the 2023 national championship game, the program’s first Final Four appearance. The following season, he helped the Aztecs advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament before being eliminated by eventual national champion UConn. He finished his college career as a Second-team All-American by the NABC and The Sporting News, a Third-team All-American by the AP, a John R. Wooden Award All-American, the Karl Malone Award winner, and the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year by media vote.
Other Performances
LeDee also posted strong statistical seasons at TCU, where he appeared in two years of action and developed his frontcourt skills. His career-highlight list, however, is most defined by the record-breaking senior year at San Diego State, where he set multiple program single-season records and led his conference in several major offensive categories.
Jaedon LeDee Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Jaedon Herbert LeDee grew up in Houston, Texas, where he developed his early basketball skills. Public details about his parents and extended family are not widely documented, and verified information on his family background is limited.
Personal Life
LeDee has kept most of his personal life private, and there is no public confirmation of a spouse, partner, or children. He continues to pursue his professional basketball career, having moved to Germany to play for Skyliners Frankfurt in the EasyCredit BBL.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year marked LeDee’s transition from the NBA G League to professional basketball in Europe. He split the early part of the year between the Iowa Wolves and the Salt Lake City Stars, then was acquired by the Noblesville Boom in June 2025 before being moved again to Skyliners Frankfurt on July 1, 2025. That sequence of moves reflected a player still working to find a stable home in professional basketball after going undrafted in 2024.
His signing with Skyliners Frankfurt offered LeDee his first full-season contract with a top European club, providing an opportunity to play consistent minutes in the German Bundesliga. Joining a program with a strong European tradition was a chance to continue developing his game against high-level international competition while remaining visible to NBA scouts.
Looking ahead, the outlook for the 2025-26 season centers on LeDee establishing himself as a featured frontcourt scorer for Skyliners Frankfurt, building on the momentum of his record-setting final college season. With his size, scoring touch, and professional experience already growing, the German campaign represents an important step in his long-term basketball journey.