The former Bison dies at the age of 29

Former North Dakota State men’s basketball player Jordan Aaberg passed away unexpectedly on Sept. 8, 2020. The cause of his death has not been announced, although Forum News Service reports that he collapsed at his home. Aaberg was just 29 years old.

According to a GoFundMe campaign that was launched to help his family, Aaberg leaves behind his wife, Courtney and a one-year-old daughter.

“Jordan was a kind-hearted, funny, generous and hard-working man. His love for Delia and Courtney shined through in everything he did,” the online fundraiser said.

Aaberg was a standout basketball player from Rothsay, Minnesota. He graduated from Rothsay high school in 2009. Aaberg had a tremendous senior season, averaging 25.0 points, 14.8 rebounds, 6.8 blocks and 4.0 assists per game. Aaberg finished his career as Rothsay’s third all-time leading scorer. He was also the class valedictorian, while also being a member of the National Honor Society and the Knowledge Bowl Team.

Rothsay basketball tweeted, “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Aaberg family. Not only a great basketball player but an outstanding person. Jordan will be missed by the Rothsay community, Rothsay basketball program, and all who were connected with him!”

Aaberg played basketball at NDSU for four years. He started 16 games as a freshman for the Bison, where he recorded 34 blocked shots, just four shy of cracking the school’s single-season top ten list. He was also named to the Summit League Winter/Spring All-Academic Team as a freshman.

As a sophomore, Aaberg played in all 31 games off the bench. He also set a school record shooting 93.3 percent from the foul line. He also notched career-highs of 15 points and 11 rebounds for his first collegiate double-double in a home win over South Dakota. He went on to be named to the Summit League All-Academic Team, Summit League Commissioner’s List of Academic Excellence and National Association of Basketball Coaches Honors Court.

In his final season for the Bison, Aaberg appeared in 22 games off the bench for the Bison. He was named to the NABC Honors Court, Summit League Commissioner’s List of Academic Excellence and Summit League Academic Honor Roll.

The NDSU men’s basketball team tweeted, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Aaberg family. We’ll miss our teammate and our brother, but always remember the man that he was.”