Damion Lee Joins Cardinals' Basketball Roster
April 23, 2015 | Men's Basketball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Damion Lee, an all-conference guard who has played his last three years at Drexel University, has signed a financial aid agreement at the University of Louisville to play his final collegiate basketball season with the Cardinals.
"Damion fills a big void for us in scoring," said UofL Coach Rick Pitino. "He's also an outstanding defensive player and is terrific at the free throw line, which is also a great asset for our team. He's an outstanding young man with a great attitude."
Lee will enroll in graduate school at UofL after completing his general humanities and social science degree at Drexel in June.
A member of the All-Colonial Athletic Association five-person first team and an NABC All-District 10 first team selection, Lee was the nation's fourth-leading scorer last season, averaging 21.4 points. He also ranked among the CAA top 10 in rebounding (6.1 seventh), defensive rebounding (5.2, second), steals (1.5, fourth), field goal percentage (.438, ninth), three-point percentage (.385, ninth), free throw percentage (.887, second; 14th in the NCAA) and three-pointers per game (2.4, fifth). He led the CAA and was eighth nationally in minutes played, averaging 38.1 minutes per game. The Dragons finished last season with an 11-19 record and were sixth in the CAA.
The 6-foot-6, 200-pound guard from Baltimore, Md., topped 20 points in 14 of his 27 games last season, including five performances with 30 or more points. He scored a season-high 33 points against conference-leader Northeastern on Jan. 28. He fractured his right hand early in a game against Northeastern on Feb. 21 and finished the game with 30 points, missing the team's final three games of the season.
In addition to his first-team All-CAA selection, he was named to the CAA All-Defensive Team and All-Academic Team. His 1,538 career points in three seasons ranks 10th on the Dragons' all-time scoring list, he is the Drexel career leader in free throw percentage (.842) and is third in career three-pointers (196). He made over 60 threes in each of his three complete seasons. He made 38 of his last 39 free throw attempts.
As a freshman, Lee averaged 12.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists and scored in double digits on 22 occasions in earning CAA Rookie of the Year honors. He led Drexel and was third in the CAA averaging 17.1 points as a sophomore and was an All-CAA second team selection. He scored in double figures in 23 games, including a career-high 34 points against Old Dominion. His 2013-14 season was cut short after just five games when he suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Lee was a first-team All-New England Preparatory School Athletic Council selection in 2011 when he averaged 17 points, six rebounds and five assists in helping St. Thomas More School in Oakdale, Conn. to a 30-7 record and the National Prep School Championship.
Lee chose to attend Louisville for his final collegiate season after narrowing his choices to also include Arizona, Gonzaga, Marquette and Maryland.
