July 25, 2008
Work and play, all the same for Lee
Writer and humorist Sam Ewing once wrote, "Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all." Count Dominique Lee of St. Mary’s High in the initial category -- if basketball uniforms had sleeves.
Dominique Lee is ready to explode
Hard work, hard play -- meaning degree of effort -- describes Lee on the basketball court. Old-timers may describe him as a ‘blue collar’ baller but Lee also manages ‘film at 11’ highlights employing his skills and athletic abilities.
He’s an integral part of St. Mary’s Coach Manny Nodar’s squad, one whose membership requires a hold-nothing-back esprit de corps.
The 6-foot-4, 200 pound junior-to-be, who averaged 15 points a game and 15 rebounds a contest last season, is still a work-in-progress as should be e xpected but he displays a tenacious mentality that coaches lap up. In his own words, "I like contact on both offense and defense" and he describes his best skill at present as "taking people to the rack." His dribble-drives and finishes with either hand are extremely difficult to defend. Basketball analysts would also put his board play right up there, too.
Mark Olivier of the Oakland Soldiers Slam-N-Jam basketball organization -- Lee’s summer residence on the court -- describes the youngster as "a wing who is completely athletic." adding, "Dominique is like LeBron [James] down low."
Olivier went on to add, "He’s one of the hardest working kids I know who has fun playing and is a joy to coach."
But Lee is quick to add that he views his shooting as the area he is most focused on improving.
Playing basketball runs through the Lee family tree. Mom and Dad were both on high school teams and Dad also represented Michigan at the collegiate level.
As for college, Lee remains focused on prep and summer games for now but down the recruiting road he is interested in a playing style that "is aggressive and gets up and down the court -- I love to run," he said. Just imagine by then a 6-foot-5 or 6-foot-6, 220 pound thoroughbred flying around the court -- that"s what numerous college coaches are already doing.
Back to the present, there is also the desire for another go-around with Campbell Hall of North Hollywood which topped St. Mary’s 83-61 for the Division IV state title last season. Lee simply said, "We want a rematch."