Lee joining Lions

Orange Coast College sophomore Jamaal Lee signed Friday to continue his men’s basketball career at Vanguard University.

A 6-foot-3 guard-forward in his first season with the Pirates, Lee leads the state with 12.7 rebounds per game and is averaging 17.1 points for Coach Steve Spencer.

Lee, 33, who did not play in high school and whose only previous collegiate experience was a handful of games at Santa Clarita-based College of the Canyons in 2002, recorded a triple-double with 17 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists on Nov. 28 against San Diego City College.

Lee, the Pirates’ team captain, had 22 rebounds in a game and twice produced 29 points this season for OCC (8-11, 2-3 in conference).

He helped the Pirates win back-to-back tournament titles in December.

“I think [Lee] was excited about pursuing Vanguard and we were equally excited about pursuing him,” Vanguard Coach Rhett Soliday said. “It just seemed to be a great fit in every way.”

— Barry Faulkner