TUCSON -
Ira Lee has played in more than 75 games in his Arizona Basketball career and is in the second semester of his junior year.
It stands to reason he's learned a thing or two about himself during his time in Tucson. And as he prepares to head down the homestretch of the season with his teammates as the lights get brighter and the stakes get higher, Lee knows he'll be ready.
"I think the biggest thing I've learned about myself during my time here is that I handle pressure pretty well," Lee said with a small, confident smile. "I've had a lot of ups here and I've gone through some pretty big downs. If you throw something at me, I know I'll be able to handle it. I didn't know that about myself before I got here."
Lee, frankly, represents what college basketball is all about. The 6-foot-7-inch, 240 pound forward from Los Angeles has learned and grown both on and off the basketball court. On the court, Lee has blossomed into a dependable, consistent player down low.
During his freshman season in 2017-18, Lee played in 27 games, averaging just more than 10 minutes per game. He increased that last year to 17.9 minutes per game and suited up in 31 of the team's 32 games. This season, Lee has played in every game and is shooting 54 percent from the floor, one year after eclipsing the 60 percent mark.
"He plays very, very hard," Coach
Sean Miller said of Lee. "He finishes around the basket. He rebounds at both ends. Ira is one of our most consistent practice players. I think the guys on the team would say that, too. When you're like that, sometimes you can really breakthrough in games. Ira is earning a bigger role because of how is he performing. He's continued to really work hard in practice."
Lee's best game of the season came in mid-January when he played 26 minutes and scored six points and grabbed seven rebounds in a lopsided win over No. 20 Colorado. It wasn't a surprise to Miller or Lee's teammates that the junior stepped up in such a big game.
The pressure was there to perform and Lee had no problem rising to the challenge.
One of the main reasons Lee has been able to step up at the biggest times – as he's learned about himself – is because he's had to be patient during his Arizona career. As a result, he's taken that time to learn from his teammates and take the qualities that make them the most successful and apply them to himself.
"When I came here, I wanted everything to happen fast and was trying to force it all," Lee said. "But I've learned through Coach Miller and my teammates, that sometimes you just have to take a deep breath, and things will eventually happen. It's important to not change anything you do and just keep working hard, keep getting extra shots up and keep looking for ways to always be better."
While there is still plenty to be written, this season has been Lee's favorite since becoming a Wildcat. Not only is Arizona a Top 25 team near the top of the Pac-12 standings, one of his best friends, Jemarl Baker, transferred to Arizona from Kentucky prior to the season.
"He really helps keep me balanced," Lee said. "He's the ying to my yang. He's my roommate this year and I've tried learning a lot from him. I think that's real important to find the best qualities in your teammates to learn from, and that's something I've always tried to do."
