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Clayton Jones/News-Sun
NMJC's Desmond Lee Goes up for a dunk earlier this
season. Lee committed to NC State on Monday.
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A long process came to a close for New Mexico Junior College's Desmond Lee as the 6-foot-4 guard committed to North Carolina State on Monday.
The sophomore from Norfolk, Va., had numerous offers from top NCAA programs such as Miami (Fla.), Illinois, Baylor, Auburn, Arkansas, Georgia and Creighton just to name a few but decided on North Carolina State.
Lee, a NJCAA Second-Team All-American in 2012-13, helped NMJC qualify for the NJCAA National Tournament for the first time in 17 years when he and the Thunderbirds won the Region 5 Tournament. Overall, NMJC went 26-7, including 12-4 in Western Junior College Athletic Conference play – good for a tie for second place.
Lee was the second-leading scorer in the WJCAC at 20.2 points per game and was also in the top 20 in the conference in steals (2.0, second), rebounds (5.4, 16th), assists (2.2, 18th), 3-pointers made (69, fourth) and free throws made (198, first).
As a freshman, Lee helped NMJC qualify for the regional tournament for the first time in over a decade as the T-Birds finished 23-9 overall and 10-4 in WJCAC play – tied for second with Howard.
Lee averaged 13.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.2 steals his freshman season.
NC State went 24-11 this past season, including 11-7 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Wolfpack made the NCAA Tournament as a No. 8 seed but lost to No. 9 Temple in the round of 64.
NC State will have some openings at guard as junior Lorenzo Brown will forego his senior season to enter the 2013 NBA Draft after averaging 12.4 points and an ACC-high 7.2 assists per game and freshman Rodney Purvis is transferring after averaging 8.3 points (23 starts).
