Marcus Lee is a talented American basketball player who enjoyed a highly successful college career and is currently starring in the Turkish Basketball Super League for the recently promoted Semt77 Yalovaspor. He has also previously played for Italian Serie A side Vanoli Cremona and NBA G League side Sioux Falls Skyforce.
Lee was born in San Francisco, California, in 1994. His knack for basketball was in evidence as early as high school when he led the school team to victory in the 2013 CIF North Coast Sectionals. When he graduated that year, he was also invited to play in the McDonald’s All American game and the Jordan Brand Classic. He was also a consensus top-20 high school player for many outlets, rated a third-team All-American and a first-team Parade All-American. He committed to play for the University of Kentucky and was with them for three years, playing 100 games and helping them to the NCAA finals in his first season. For his senior season, Lee transferred back to California to play for the University of California’s Golden Bears team and adding another 32 games to his college career record. His 52 blocks that season remain one of the ten highest in the university’s history.
Lee was undrafted in the 2018 NBA draft but quickly signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Summer League. He then spent time with Miami Heat before settling with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, playing 19 games for them. The following year, he took his undoubted talents overseas, first to Greece, then to Israel. Ultimately he made a brief return to the Skyforce before signing a year-long contract in Italy with Vanoli Cremona. In August 2021, he made the move to Turkey and Semt77 Yalovaspor.