NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Jalen Gabbidon will continue to lead the Yale men's basketball team in 2020-21. Gabbidon, the 2020 Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year, was recently re-elected captain. He hopes the role is more traditional this season.
 
"Serving as captain during the past year was definitely a challenge in ways I didn't expect," he said. "With guys living in different time zones and countries, it was difficult finding time for our team to get together virtually and to find ways to continue building teamwork and camaraderie throughout.  The biggest thing I learned from this past year is that leadership is always on display.  Even with virtual meetings, the way you carry yourself every day matters and impacts others - punctuality, attentiveness, and one's willingness to speak up are great examples of this."
 
Gabbidon has been an outstanding role model since arriving on campus. He had a breakout season in 2019-20. In addition to earning Ivy League Defensive Player of Year honors, he was one of only two Bulldogs to start all 30 games, shot 41.4 percent from three-point range and averaged 5.9 points. He appeared in 17 games as a sophomore after missing all of his rookie season due to injury.
 
During his time away from Yale, Gabbidon co-founded a startup with Yale basketball alum Jason Abromaitis '07.
 
"During this past year, I have learned an incredible amount about life and leadership from both Jason and the wide range of mentors I have been fortunate enough to meet throughout this process," Gabbidon said. "I'm looking forward to having the opportunity to be a leader this season and bringing the lessons I've learned the past year onto the court."
 
Gabbidon has prior experience interning at Google for two summers.