August 18, 2008
Effort autographs Lee’s work
Someone once said that success is a ladder you cannot climb with your hands in your pockets. Demetrius Lee understands and abides by this maxim, placing his hands in the proverbial pockets of others on the basketball court.
The 6-foot-3, 185 pound Lee is a junior-to-be backcourter at St. Mary’s High who doubles up in the summer as a member of the Oakland Soldiers basketball organization. Although humble, this doesn’t stop him from asserting his presence towards opponents come game time.
Lee’s intensity also will pay dividends on the gridiron
Asked about his development into a college prospect and rather than getting a recital about trophies, victories and championships, Lee said, "I love playing basketball and I just sort of got good at it."
An inquiry about his best skills brought this succinct straightforward answer, "Three-point shooting, defense and being very fast with the ball."
Oakland Soldiers founder Mark Olivier concurs. "We were recently in an [out-of-state] tournament and Demetrius was knocking down threes and defending against the best in the country. He helped us turn the tide."
Olivier went on to add, "Demetrious has one motor -- hard all the time -- he’s a very intense competitor."
That style brings nods of approval from college coaches whose foremost dread is having to ‘teach’ effort to players.
At the collegiate level, Lee’s preference is a program that plays flat out. "When I go to college, I prefer an up-and-down fast pace although I know there are times where you have to bring the ball out and set things up."
His father was a basketballer at Michigan and both his parents played in high school so there’s some hoops genetics running in the family.
Academics were a concern early on in high school but no longer as Lee is bettering his grade point average every year.
Surely to the absolute delight of the St. Mary’s football coach, he is also planning to be on the gridiron this coming season for the Panthers, seeing himself doing double duty at both the wide receiver and safety positions.
Here’s Lee describing what his friends would say about him if asked, "I’m very fun to be around. I like to help people and encourage anyone who comes to me with a problem," he said.
Just don’t approach him on the court in the wrong uniform and with a basketball.