Who is Justin Lebron? What to know about Alabama baseball star

USA Today

3 days ago

Who is Justin Lebron? What to know about Alabama baseball star
Show Caption
Hide Caption
College baseball player forms sweet bond with coach's daughters
While playing for Coach Frank Avilla Jr., Brady Crabtree formed a special, sibling-like bond with his daughters - a connection that continued well after graduation.
Lebron will soon suit up for the Alabama Crimson Tide as the regional tournament round of the college baseball postseason – the lead-up to the 2025 College World Series – begins Friday.
No, not that LeBron.
Shortstop Justin Lebron has emerged as one of the biggest baseball stars in the SEC over his first two seasons playing for the Tide. He's started in all 114 games he's played over the 2024 and 2025 seasons and boasts a career slash line of .326/.426/.596 in that span, good for an OPS of 1.021.
In 2025, Lebron stole more bases, hit more home runs and knocked in almost twice as many RBIs as he did as a freshman.
COLLEGE WORLD SERIES PREDICTIONS: Who will reach Omaha in 2025 NCAA baseball tournament?
As Alabama gears up for its first game in the Hattiesburg regional on Friday, the Crimson Tide's No. 2 hitter and SEC All-Defensive Team shortstop will be a big name to watch.
Here's everything to know about Justin Lebron:
Who is Justin Lebron?
Lebron, 20, is a sophomore shortstop for the Alabama Crimson Tide. He has started all 114 games for Alabama since joining the team, with 113 of those starts coming at shortstop (his lone other start was as a center fielder). This year, he was named to the All-SEC Second Team and the conference's All-Defensive Team for his prowess in the middle infield.
The sophomore led his team in several statistical categories, including home runs, RBIs and runs scored.
As a high school recruit, he was ranked as the nation's No. 41-ranked shortstop by scouting organization Perfect Game, in part because of a perceived lack of power – he hit one home run in his high school career. In two years at Alabama, he has already hit 30 long balls. His 18 this year tied for fifth among all SEC players.
NCAA BASEBALL TOURNAMENT: Regional host sites for College World Series bracket
Is Justin Lebron related to LeBron James?
No, Lebron has no relation to Los Angeles Lakers basketball player LeBron James.
Justin Lebron stats
2024: Slashed .338/.429/.546 (.975 OPS) with 12 home runs, nine doubles, 37 RBIs and seven stolen bases
Slashed .338/.429/.546 (.975 OPS) with 12 home runs, nine doubles, 37 RBIs and seven stolen bases 2025: Slashed .315/.422/.644 (1.066 OPS) with 18 home runs, 17 doubles, one triple, 72 RBIs and 17 stolen bases
Slashed .315/.422/.644 (1.066 OPS) with 18 home runs, 17 doubles, one triple, 72 RBIs and 17 stolen bases Career: .326/.426/.596 slash line (1.021 OPS), 30 home runs, 26 doubles, one triple, 109 RBIs, 24 SBs
Where is Justin Lebron from?
Lebron was born in The Bronx, New York but grew up in Florida after his family moved there at a young age.
Lebron attended Archbishop Edward McCarthy High School in Southwest Ranches, Florida.
COLLEGE BASEBALL TOURNAMENT: Bracket winners and losers start with SEC
Is Justin Lebron MLB draft-eligible?
No. Since Lebron is only a sophomore, he will have to wait until after next season to be eligible for the MLB draft.
Alabama baseball College World Series schedule
Date: Friday, May 30
Friday, May 30 Matchup: Alabama vs. Miami (FL)
Alabama vs. Miami (FL) Location: Pete Taylor Park in Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Alabama begins their postseason quest for a College World Series berth at the Hattiesburg regional tournament.
They'll play their first matchup against Miami (FL) on Friday at 3 p.m. ET. The winner of that game will play the winner of national No. 16 seed Southern Miss vs. Columbia on Saturday. The losers will also play each other.
The regional tournament will conclude on either Sunday, June 1 or Monday, June 2, when all but one team has lost two games in the double-elimination format.
The regional winner will move onto a super regional matchup against another regional winner, where the winner of an ensuing best-of-three series moves on to the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.