BRONX, N.Y. – Fordham Men's Basketball Head Coach Mike Magpayo has secured a commitment from former Harvard standout and French international Louis Lesmond.
 
"Louis continues our international flavor being from France originally and also the high-quality men we want to play at Fordham being a graduate of Harvard," said Magpayo. "Louis brings defensive length, shooting, and athleticism at the guard spot. Most importantly he will bring veteran smarts and leadership to our culture." 
 
This past season, Lesmond was named the Crimson's Defensive Player of the Year after appearing in 22 games, 20 of which were starts.  He averaged 7.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per contest, reaching double figures 10 times. Lesmond scored 15 or more twice this season, posting 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting at Brown on Jan. 18 and matching a career-high with 17 points on a 4-of-7 showing from deep against Columbia on Feb. 15.
 
Lesmond's best collegiate season came as a junior in 2023-24 when he averaged 9.8 points and started all 27 of the Crimson's games.  He shot a career-high 38.7% from the floor, including a blistering 37.9% from beyond the arc on more than 6.2 attempts per game.  Lesmond reached double figures on 15 occasions and sank three or more 3-pointers 13 different times.  His 2.4 made 3-pointers per outing ranked fifth in the Ivy League.
 
Lesmond missed all but five games as a sophomore due to injury following a productive freshman campaign that saw him average 7.9 points and 2.6 rebounds in 25.5 minutes per game.  Prior to his freshman campaign, the highly touted Lesmond was tabbed as Blue Ribbon Preseason Ivy League Rookie of the Year.   
 
A native of Paris, France, Lesmond has suited up twice in FIBA play for the French National Team, averaging 6.3 points per game at the 2018 FIBA U16 European Championship before averaging 7.0 points and 1.9 rebounds per game at the 2021 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup.  At the 2021 U19 World Cup, Lesmond won silver for France alongside current NBA star Victor Wembanyama.
 
Lesmond played scholastically in the United States and both Evanston Township High and Notre Dame College Prep in Illinois enrolling at Harvard.  Both his father, David, and his mother, Vanessa, played professionally in France.  His father played collegiately at Purdue for Hall of Famer Gene Keady, graduating in 1997.