Maryland Basketball: Damion Lee Should Join Terps
Nov 14, 2014; Boulder, CO, USA; Drexel Dragons guard Damion Lee (14) shoots the ball over Colorado Buffaloes guard/forward Xavier Johnson (2) during the first half at Coors Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
After the addition of five-star center Diamond Stone and the announcement that Melo Trimble will return to College Park for his sophomore season, Maryland basketball fans are excited about the possibilities for this team next year. Another reason they should be excited is because a former local high school star is looking to transfer schools.
Damion Lee, who is from the Baltimore area, began his high school basketball career at Mount Saint Joseph High School and finished it at Calvert Hall College. Lee then committed to play his college ball at Drexel, where he averaged 16.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and a steal per game. He was also a proficient shooter while he was with the Dragons, knocking down at least two three-pointers a game and shooting almost 37 percent from behind the arc.
Lee will be graduating from Drexel in June and because of his degree, will be eligible to play immediately. What better way to finish his college career than in his home-state? There’s no doubt that Mark Turgeon could definitely use him. Junior forward Jake Layman is strongly considering entering the NBA Draft, so there would leave a need for another scorer. Even if Layman decides to return to Maryland, Lee would just provide more depth for an already deep team.
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Lee would fit right in with this Terps team. He gets to the free-throw line and converts them at an impressive rate of nearly 90 percent. The stripe is a place where the Terps usually thrive and Lee would only help them improve in that area. He is also a talented defender. Growing up in Baltimore, you are taught how to play defense the right way.
Furthermore why Lee could possibly come to Maryland is because history shows that Turgeon is not opposed to bringing in transfer players. Look at Dez Wells, Richaud Pack, and Robert Carter, just to name a few. Turgeon has been able to get all these guys to buy into his system and it definitely paid dividends for the basketball program in its inaugural Big Ten season.
There are so many reasons why Lee should want to come to College Park, but most importantly, he would have the opportunity to win and be a part of something special to close out his college career. Maryland is going to be a force to be reckoned with next season regardless, but if Lee gets on board, they may be on another level. Many Terps fans probably don’t know much about him, but they should be crossing their fingers in hopes that he comes back home.
Lee will be highly sought after because he is such a talented player, but not many teams can offer him what the Terps can: championship hopes.