Marcus Lee signs with Tasmania JackJumpers in Australian NBL

Marcus Lee is headed back Down Under. The former Kentucky Wildcat signed a one-year deal with the Tasmania JackJumpers in the NBL in Australia, according to ESPN’s Olgun Uluc. Lee played for Melbourne United in the NBL last season before going to Italy to play for Reggio Emilia.

With Melbourne United, Lee averaged 8.8 points and a team-high 7.5 rebounds in 17 games, playing alongside fellow former Cat Isaac Humphries. In May, he wrapped his season with Reggio Emilia, averaging 4.6 points and 3.4 assists per game. Before joining the JackJumpers, he’ll return to the United States to play for the AfterShocks, a Wichita State alum team, in the TBT.

Roster announcement:

Foe turned friend – 6’11 big man Marcus Lee is locked in to help us make another deep @thetournament run!

The former McDonald’s All-American faced the Shockers while at both Kentucky & Cal. Excited to have Marcus with us! pic.twitter.com/DxTp6Hw1tv

— AfterShocks (@AfterShocksTBT) June 20, 2023

In three seasons at Kentucky (2013-16), Lee averaged 3.9 points and 3.6 rebounds, helping the Cats to two Final Fours. After his junior year, he transferred to Cal, where he averaged 11.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per contest in the 2017-18 season. Lee played for the Sioux Falls Skyforce in the G League for two seasons before making the move overseas in 2020. Since then, he’s played in Italy, Turkey, Puerto Rico, Spain, and Australia.

Here are Lee’s highlights from last year’s run with Melbourne United:

Former Kentucky Wildcats playing overseas

Lee is one of several former Cats playing professionally abroad. Last week, Alex Poythress won a championship with Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in the Israeli Basketball Premier League. I spent part of my morning researching where some other familiar names have landed overseas (most recent team listed).

Eric Bledsoe: Shanghai Sharks (China)Isaiah Briscoe: Apu Old Wild West Udine (Italy)DeMarcus Cousins: Guaynabo Mets (Puerto Rico)Archie Goodwin: Budivelnyk Kyiv (Ukraine)Josh Harrellson: Fukushima Firebonds (Japan)Marcus Lee: Tasmania JackJumpers (Australia)EJ Montgomery: Aomori Watts (Japan)Alex Poythress: Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (Israel)Nate Sestina: Turk Telekom (Turkey)Marquis Teague: Kolossos H Hotels (Greece)Reid Travis: Shimane Susanoo Magic (Japan)Derek Willis: Reyer Venice (Italy)Eloy Vargas: Aguada (Uruguay)Kyle Wiltjer: Zhejiang Lions (China)Tai Wynyard: Canterbury Rams (New Zealand)James Young: Kolossos H Hotels (Greece)

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