April 4, 2025
WILMORE, Ky. --- Asbury Athletics has announced this month's #TeamAU Alumni Feature, presented by KEMI (Kentucky Employers' Mutual Insurance), highlights AU men's basketball 2021 graduate and current University of Kentucky Men's Basketball Graduate Assistant, Leander Ridgeway.
"We are so proud of Leander and the person he's become," said Asbury Associate Head Men's Basketball Coach
Russ Abner. "As coaches we're aren't really supposed to have favorites, but Leander is certainly one of ours. He's always been so humble and hard working, and truly loves the game of basketball. More importantly, Leander has an unbelievably strong relationship with Christ and has been a great example to former and current Asbury men's basketball players. Super excited to see what the future holds for him!"
Leander, a Lexington, Ky., native and Henry Clay High School alum, began his career at NCAA Division-II Lee University before transferring to Asbury for his final two years of college. Ridgeway graduated in 2021 from Asbury with a degree in journalism.
In his senior season at AU, he led the Eagles to a 15-6 record while leading Asbury in scoring and rebounding being named to the NAIA River States All-Conference First Team. The year prior, he was named the 2020 River States Newcomer of the Year.
After graduation, Leander prepped professionally in 2022 in Jaibos in Tampico, Mexico, before being hired in 2023 as a graduate assistant for men's basketball at BYU under head coach Mark Pope. Ridgeway helped the Cougars to a 23-11 record and into the first round of the NCAA Tournament that season.
Following the announcement of Coach Mark Pope to the University of Kentucky, Pope invited Leander with him to serve as a graduate assistant for the UK men's basketball program during the 2024-25 season. The Wildcats recently concluded their year in the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen, while also closing out the regular season tying the NCAA D-I record for most wins against a Top 15 opponent.
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