Bucknell University Athletics
Former Bison Hoops Star Charles Lee Signs with San Antonio Spurs
9/15/2006 8:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Sept. 15, 2006
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Charles Lee, the 2006 Patriot League Player of the Year who co-captained the Bucknell men's basketball team to back-to-back league titles, has signed a contract with the National Basketball Association's San Antonio Spurs, the Spurs announced today.
Lee was one of four free agents signed by the Spurs today. The other three are former Maryland forward Jamar Smith, 2004 Division III Player of the Year Rich Melzer and Iowa alum Jared Reiner. All three were teammates of Lee's with the Spurs' summer league team at the Rocky Mountain Revue in Salt Lake City.
In three games this summer, Lee averaged 4.7 points and 2.0 steals in 12.0 minutes. That includes a 10-point showing against the Utah Jazz in the final game of the summer session.
Last season Lee helped lead the Bison to a best-ever 27-5 record, a second straight league title and a second straight trip to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He became the first player in Patriot League history to be named tournament MVP twice, then he scored 24 points in a first-round won over Arkansas in the NCAA Tournament.
Lee was named an honorable mention All-American by the Associated Press after leading the Bison in scoring at 13.2 points per game, and he was the team's catalyst as it posted an unprecedented 14-0 Patriot League record. He scored in double figures in each of the last 14 games of the season and averaged 16.0 points per game over that span.
He graduated with 1,147 career points, which ranks 21st on Bucknell's all-time scoring list. He also ranks 18th on Bucknell's career rebounding chart with 568, making him one of only 15 players in program history to amass 1,000 points and 500 rebounds. Lee also ranks fifth in school history in steals with 167.
The Spurs begin training camp later this month and will open their 2006 preseason against Adecco ASVELL Lyon-Villeurbanne on Oct. 5 in Lyon, France. San Antonio is set to play its first of four preseason games against NBA competition at the AT&T Center on Oct. 14 against the Orlando Magic.
Lee is one of 20 players currently listed on the Spurs roster. NBA teams are permitted to carry 15 players in season, 12 of whom may dress for a particular game.
