The resilient path taken by 2010 Calvert Hall graduate and NBA champion Damion Lee features a Connecticut prep college, two faculties and time within the G League earlier than breaking into the league with the Atlanta Hawks in 2018.
In June, the 29-year-old guard reached the head of his occupation when he helped the Golden State Warriors seize the NBA title with a 4-2 sequence win over the Boston Celtics.
On Tuesday, he was again at Calvert Hall, savoring one other particular night time with household, associates, former teammates and coaches as they celebrated a highschool profession that included a Baltimore Catholic league championship in Lee’s senior season.
When Lee made it to the microphone, moments after turning into the fourth Cardinals participant to have his NBA jersey emblazoned on the Alumni Memorial Gym wall, he gushed: “That’s crazy! That up there is real crazy!”
Lee, who in July signed a one-year contract to play for the Phoenix Suns after averaging 7.4 factors, 3.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists for Golden State final season, discovered his approach again to his highschool fitness center with a smashing success story primarily based on arduous work and perception.
“It’s dope — I love it,” Lee stated. “It’s a matter of just working hard. I think that’s the main thing in life — whatever your dreams, you chase them, you double down on them and you don’t let anybody deter you from them. Having support I think has always been the biggest thing for me — support from my family, friends, coaches, everyone that has always pushed me and made sure to keep me on the right track.”
Lee transferred to Calvert Hall from Mount Saint Joseph in his junior yr and proved a precious last piece in serving to the Cardinals declare the BCL championship as a senior in 2010.
Earning All-Metro second-team honors, he was a fierce defender and rebounder who had a knack for making well timed baskets. Former Calvert Hall coach John Bauersfeld stated the younger guard’s intangibles proved way more precious.
“I think what he brought to us when he came to Calvert Hall was incredible energy. He’s a great personality to be around — a very positive, glass half-full guy and his outlook on things is just so positive,” Bauersfeld stated. “He brought us a little more belief in ourselves that we can beat the teams we had been struggling against, like St. Joe and St. Frances and even Towson Catholic back in the day.”
Lee soaked in his particular night time, gathering with a few of his former Calvert Hall teammates for a bunch picture and having fun with the corporate of his family members, together with his spouse, Sydel Curry-Lee, and 9-month-old son, Daxon. Sydel is the youthful sister of Steph and Seth Curry and daughter of Dell Curry, making Lee a part of one of the vital well-known households in basketball historical past.
“It’s amazing to see how it all happened — that was 12 years ago,” stated Lee, who performed at Drexel and Louisville earlier than turning professional. “I all the time inform folks after I was graduating highschool, should you would have instructed me I’d be within the NBA and even one thing like this [jersey ceremony] would occur, there’s no true perception in it, as a result of for me, it was nearly getting to school. How can I get to school … it wasn’t to turn into an NBA participant. That was simply one thing that occurred alongside the best way.
“I’m thankful, I’m blessed and I’m here and I don’t plan to stop anytime soon. I got to keep on working , keep on working to make sure I can get better and be there for the long haul.”
On the wall, Lee joined Duane Ferrell (Class of 1984), Juan Dixon (1994) and Cardinals second-year coach Gary Neal (2002) as 4 Calvert Hall graduates who reached their final objective of enjoying within the NBA.
“To have the type of career Damion has had just shows a lot about his character, his dedication, his discipline, his work ethic and that’s important,” Neal stated. “When [current high school players] come in here and they see those jerseys on the wall, that means a lot. It means you’ve accomplished something at the highest level in what you set out to do. Damion has had a great, great career.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com