Fairfield University Athletics

2023-24: NABC All-District Second Team…All-Met Second Team…All-MAAC First Team…MAAC All-Championship Team…Two-time MAAC Player of the Week (Jan. 22, Feb. 26)…Appeared in 32 games with 29 starts, averaging 32.7 minutes per game…Netted a total of 519 points, averaging 16.2 points per contest…Shot 48.8 percent from the field, 35.4 percent from three-point range and 89.5 percent from the free throw line…Scored in double figures in 24 games, including 13 outings with 20-plus points…Had 29 points in the Jan. 19 home win over Saint Peter’s and the March 9 victory at Mount St. Mary’s…Scored 27 points in the nationally-televised win at Quinnipiac…Also averaged 4.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game.

2022-23: Made 26 appearances with 22 starts…Averaged 6.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per game in 23.4 minutes per outing…Netted double figures on four occasions, all during MAAC play…Shot 83.3 percent from the free throw line...Filled out the statsheet with seven points, eight rebounds and three assists in the Super Bowl Sunday overtime win over The Mount.

2021-22: Played in 13 games in an injury-mired campaign...Averaged 3.1 points per outing in 12.3 minutes per game…Checked into the season opener at Providence and the Nov. 14 game at Boston College...Shared the team high with 14 points, including a 4-for-6 day from distance, with six rebounds and six assists against Medgar Evers...Knocked down a three-pointer in the win at Sacred Heart on Nov. 20...Returned to the lineup on Feb. 6 against Siena after missing 15 games with a lower-body injury...Played 21 minutes and scored six points against Quinnipiac on Feb. 9.

2020-21
Jalen Leach played in 15 games before suffering an injury that kept him off the court for the remainder of the season. While in the lineup, the freshman was one of the team’s most dependable scorers, bolstering the team off the bench. He averaged 6.9 points per game, a number aided by his six games of 10 or more points. He was one of the more productive three-point shooters by averaging 1.2 long-range baskets per game (17 in 15 appearances), shooting 34 percent from that range (50 attempts). His only start came in a win over Iona which resulted in 10 points and a personal-best seven rebounds through a career-high 37 minutes on the court. He made his debut at Providence and responded with a team-high 10 points becoming the first Stag to lead the team in scoring in his first game as a freshman since Neftali Alvarez scored 16 points against #22 Purdue in the 2018-19 opener. He ranked as one of the team’s top free throw shooters at 74 percent (23 of 31), including 5 for 5 against Providence in the season opener.

Before Fairfield
Leach started his high school career at Bergen Catholic (N.J.) High School before attending Tilton School. He earned All-NEPSAC honors (New England Preparatory School Athletic Council) in 2020 after helping his team post 11 wins during the 2019-20 season. He showed his scoring potential with a 44-point performance in an 88-86 overtime win against Winchendon at the NEPSAC AA Prep Showcase in late February. Leach finished his 2019-20 season with a 24.2 scoring average along with 7.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists. He was also chosen to the All-New England second team.