PORTSMOUTH, Va. – Fresh off a nine-point, four-assist performance at the Reese's College All-Star Game, Illinois State senior guard Paris Lee will have another chance to showcase his skills as one of 64 college seniors invited to play in the prestigious Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT), April 12-15, at Churchland High School in Portsmouth, Virginia.
For 65 consecutive years, the PIT has invited 64 of the best college basketball seniors from across the nation to participate in a four-day, 12-game tournament played in front of NBA scouts. Lee is the first Redbird since Tyler Brown in 2013 to receive a PIT invitation. Brown went on to earn a spot on the 12-player PIT All-Tournament Team after averaging 19.7 points through three games.
As one of 20 seniors invited to play in the Reese's College All-Star Game April 31 at the Final Four, Lee recorded nine points, four assists and three rebounds in 19 minutes. The Maywood, Illinois, native started at point guard for the West All-Stars.
The 2017 Missouri Valley Conference Larry Bird Player of the Year and MVC Defensive Player of the Year, Lee was also an AP All-America Honorable Mention selection. He led the MVC and ranks 50th nationally with 1.9 steals and 5.0 assists per game.
Lee is the nation's active career steals leader and holds ISU's program record, with 248 steals, and he ranks fourth in ISU career assists, with 495. As a senior, Lee started all 35 games to set the program starts record (132) and ranks 21st on ISU's career scoring list, with 1,268 points. Lee is the second player in Redbird history to earn 1,000 points, 400 assists and 200 steals.
Along with his MVC Player and Defensive Player of the Year accolades, Lee was also an All-MVC First Team selection, an MVC All-Defensive Team selection and an MVC All-Tournament Team selection. He also garnered All-National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) District 16 First Team accolades.
Complete PIT rosters and a tournament schedule will be announced at a later date.
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