Lee Men's Basketball: An off-season update

Get ready sports fans, basketball season is almost in full swing. The Lee men’s basketball team is entering the upcoming season with new and familiar faces, generating great optimism within the locker room.

Assistant coach, Alex Kelehear, said the team will rely on returning veterans, notably senior point guard Dayveun Anderson and senior forward Zach Gray, while also welcoming a few transfers and younger players. 

Kelehear believes the chemistry should flow smoothly without much issue because of the recruitment process.

“We’re pretty specific when we recruit kids,” Kelehear said. “It’s more than just being good at basketball.”

Senior player, Willie Walton, has expressed strong potential within the group as well. The team is expected to add about six new players, including freshman Jonathan Woodlee from Maryville, Deuce Holland from Penn State-Brandywine, and JUCO transfer Matthew Curprew.

“As much as I’ve seen in the past few years, this team is as aligned as a team as we have,” Walton said. “The guards will help distribute the ball to the wings, and the wings will play well off that.”

Walton added that one of the team’s biggest lessons from the previous season was improving on the road. The Flames started 1-7 away from home while being able to find more success at home, winning 10 of 13 games in Walker Arena. 

“We were playing a lot of really good basketball at home, and we just were trying to figure out what we have to do on the road to have that same level of success,” Walton said.

With major adjustments and additions, the Flames are hopeful that this off-season will provide comradery and the keys needed for a successful year.  

Photo courtesy of Lee Athletic Communications.