Drexel transfer Damion Lee is headed to Louisville and, he Tweeted.
#L1C4 Louisville First Cards Forever.
— Damion Lee (@DameX_0) April 23, 2015
The 6-foot-6 junior guard also considered Arizona, Gonzaga, Maryland and Marquette.
The nation’s fifth-leading scorer, Lee averaged 21.4 points and 6.1 rebounds last season for the Dragons.
Lee will graduate from Drexel in June and will be immediately eligible to play next season.
“A great get for us,” Louisville coach Rick Pitino said, according to Eric Crawford. “Much needed.” Pitino said the additions of Lee and Cleveland State transfer Trey Lewis “allows us to stay in the mode we’ve been in last five years.”
The 6-foot-2 Lewis was Cleveland State’s leading scorer last season at 16.3 points a game. He set the Cleveland State record for 3-pointers in a single season (96) and shot 42.3 percent from 3-point range.
After he committed, Lewis recruited Lee.
“We didn’t even ask, Trey just got right on the phone with (Lee),” Pitino said. “Trey’s a great leader, and Damion has great leadership qualities”
Lee and Lewis will likely start in the backcourt next season. The Cardinals also have incoming guard Donovan Mitchell, who scored 30 points and won MVP honors last Friday in the Jordan Regional Game, and who also recruited Lee to Louisville.
“[It gives us] an even better shot at winning and another competitor and player who gives us scoring in bunches,” Mitchell told SNY.tv of Lee.
Also on Thursday, Louisville made public the hiring of assistant coach Ralph Willard to replace Wyking Jones, who left for Cal. SNY.tv first reported the story last week.
Photo: GENE SWEENEY JR / Baltimore Sun
