Illinois State’s Lee named AP All-American

Posted on March 29, 2017
Paris Lee
Illinois State senior Paris Lee is one of 15 Redbird men’s basketball players to be named an All-American. (Photo courtesy GoRedbirds.com)

By ISU Sports Information

NORMAL – Illinois State senior guard Paris Lee has been named an Associated Press All-America Honorable mention selection, marking the first such honor for a Redbird since Tarise Bryson also earned honorable mention recognition in 2001.

Lee is one of 15 players in ISU men’s basketball history to garner All-America honors. The 2016-17 AP All-America team was selected by the 65-member national media panel that votes on the AP Top 25. Votes were based on player accomplishments throughout the regular season and conference tournaments. Lee was the lone Missouri Valley Conference selection on the AP All-America list.

The 2017 MVC Larry Bird Player of the Year and MVC Defensive Player of the Year, Lee is the nation’s active career steals leader and holds ISU’s program record, with 248 steals, and ranks fourth in ISU career assists, with 495.

Lee led the MVC and ranks 50th nationally in both steals (1.9) and assists (5.0) per game. The Maywood, Illinois, native ranked first on the team and second in league three-point field goals made (2.3) per game. Lee also ranked second on the team and 10th in MVC scoring, with 13.0 points per game, and he led the team and ranked ninth in MVC free throw shooting percentage (78.4 percent).

As a senior, Lee started all 35 games to set the program career starts record (132), and he ranks 21st on Illinois State’s career scoring list, with 1,268 points. He 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 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.

Lee will showcase his skills on national television yet again as one of 20 seniors selected to play in the 2017 Reese’s College All-Star Game, scheduled for Friday, March 31 at the Final Four. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m. CT at University of Phoenix Stadium and will be televised by CBS Sports Network. Lee will play for the West All-Stars, coached by Colorado head coach Tad Boyle.

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