Collins Announces Addition of Jalen Leach
5/24/2024 11:12:00 AM | Men's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins announced that Jalen Leach has been added to the Wildcats' roster as a transfer. A versatile player, Leach was named first-team all-conference at Fairfield, and was one of just 20 players in the country last season to average 16.0+ points and 3.0+ assists per game, while shooting 48% or better from the field.
The 6-foot-4-inch Leach comes to Evanston as a graduate student transfer. He has one year of eligibility remaining after playing four seasons for Fairfield.
"We are really excited to welcome Jalen Leach into our Northwestern basketball family. Jalen is a perfect fit for our program," said Collins. "He is coming off an outstanding all-league season at Fairfield University. Jalen is an experienced combo guard who will bring an extremely versatile skill set to our backcourt the moment he gets to Evanston. His high character and work ethic will fit right in with the culture we have created within our program over the past few years. We look forward to Jalen having a big role for us as we head into next season."
Leach was a member of the All-MAAC First Team after leading Fairfield to a 24-win season, its most since the 2010-11 season.
The Nyack, N.Y. native had an incredibly efficient season, shooting 48.8% from the field and 35.4% from beyond the arc. He led the MAAC in free throw percentage, converting them at an 89.5% clip.
Fairfield reached the conference tournament final, and Leach was named to the MAAC All-Conference Tournament Team, averaging 14.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 2.3 steals per game in the event.
Gallery: (5-24-2024) Jalen Leach
His 16.2 points ranked fifth in the MAAC. He had 13 games with 20+ points and reached a season-high 29 points twice. From mid-January to March, he had a 13 game stretch where he reached double digits in each game. He will join a Northwestern offense that finished as one of the nation's top 50 units last season.
Leach's 1.8 steals per game ranked fourth in the MAAC. He had nine games where he had 3+ steals. He had a career-high five steals in a win over Manhattan in January.
Leach began his high school career at Bergen Catholic High School in New Jersey before transferring to Tilton School in New Hampshire. In his senior year at Tilton School, he was named to the All-NEPSAC (New England Preparatory School Athletic Council) team after averaging 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.2 assists.
Northwestern is coming off back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, reaching the second round both times. Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins has guided the 'Cats to back-to-back top three finishes in the Big Ten.
The 6-foot-4-inch Leach comes to Evanston as a graduate student transfer. He has one year of eligibility remaining after playing four seasons for Fairfield.
"We are really excited to welcome Jalen Leach into our Northwestern basketball family. Jalen is a perfect fit for our program," said Collins. "He is coming off an outstanding all-league season at Fairfield University. Jalen is an experienced combo guard who will bring an extremely versatile skill set to our backcourt the moment he gets to Evanston. His high character and work ethic will fit right in with the culture we have created within our program over the past few years. We look forward to Jalen having a big role for us as we head into next season."
Coming from Connecticut, Leach brings elite scoring prowess with the ability to get to the rim and convert from beyond the arc. During his 32 games in his senior season, he averaged 16.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.8 steals per game for the Stags, who finished in second place in the MAAC standings.Officially a Wildcat ??
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) May 24, 2024
Welcome to the Family, @JalenL30 pic.twitter.com/3Td8DUWfyk
Leach was a member of the All-MAAC First Team after leading Fairfield to a 24-win season, its most since the 2010-11 season.
The Nyack, N.Y. native had an incredibly efficient season, shooting 48.8% from the field and 35.4% from beyond the arc. He led the MAAC in free throw percentage, converting them at an 89.5% clip.
Fairfield reached the conference tournament final, and Leach was named to the MAAC All-Conference Tournament Team, averaging 14.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 2.3 steals per game in the event.
His 16.2 points ranked fifth in the MAAC. He had 13 games with 20+ points and reached a season-high 29 points twice. From mid-January to March, he had a 13 game stretch where he reached double digits in each game. He will join a Northwestern offense that finished as one of the nation's top 50 units last season.
Leach's 1.8 steals per game ranked fourth in the MAAC. He had nine games where he had 3+ steals. He had a career-high five steals in a win over Manhattan in January.
Leach began his high school career at Bergen Catholic High School in New Jersey before transferring to Tilton School in New Hampshire. In his senior year at Tilton School, he was named to the All-NEPSAC (New England Preparatory School Athletic Council) team after averaging 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.2 assists.
Northwestern is coming off back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, reaching the second round both times. Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins has guided the 'Cats to back-to-back top three finishes in the Big Ten.
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