Former Bison Hoops Star Charles Lee Signs with San Antonio S

2006 Patriot League Player of the Year Played with Spurs' Summer League Team

Sept. 15, 2006



LEWISBURG, Pa. - Charles Lee, the 2006 Patriot League Player of the Year who co-captained the Bucknell men's basketball team to back-to-back league titles, has signed a contract with the National Basketball Association's San Antonio Spurs, the Spurs announced today.

Lee was one of four free agents signed by the Spurs today. The other three are former Maryland forward Jamar Smith, 2004 Division III Player of the Year Rich Melzer and Iowa alum Jared Reiner. All three were teammates of Lee's with the Spurs' summer league team at the Rocky Mountain Revue in Salt Lake City.

In three games this summer, Lee averaged 4.7 points and 2.0 steals in 12.0 minutes. That includes a 10-point showing against the Utah Jazz in the final game of the summer session.

Last season Lee helped lead the Bison to a best-ever 27-5 record, a second straight league title and a second straight trip to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He became the first player in Patriot League history to be named tournament MVP twice, then he scored 24 points in a first-round won over Arkansas in the NCAA Tournament.

Lee was named an honorable mention All-American by the Associated Press after leading the Bison in scoring at 13.2 points per game, and he was the team's catalyst as it posted an unprecedented 14-0 Patriot League record. He scored in double figures in each of the last 14 games of the season and averaged 16.0 points per game over that span.

He graduated with 1,147 career points, which ranks 21st on Bucknell's all-time scoring list. He also ranks 18th on Bucknell's career rebounding chart with 568, making him one of only 15 players in program history to amass 1,000 points and 500 rebounds. Lee also ranks fifth in school history in steals with 167.

The Spurs begin training camp later this month and will open their 2006 preseason against Adecco ASVELL Lyon-Villeurbanne on Oct. 5 in Lyon, France. San Antonio is set to play its first of four preseason games against NBA competition at the AT&T Center on Oct. 14 against the Orlando Magic.

Lee is one of 20 players currently listed on the Spurs roster. NBA teams are permitted to carry 15 players in season, 12 of whom may dress for a particular game.

I still like Melzer's stats. I hope he can make the team, but we'll see.

Lee did alright during the RMR, but I honestly don't think hes got what it takes to make it into the NBA. he seemed to really struggle when he was going against guys who will be in the NBA.

Spurs invite center to training camp

Web Posted: 09/16/2006 12:21 AM CDT

Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer

The Spurs continued to fill out their training-camp roster Friday with the addition of center Jared Reiner.

Reiner joins forwards Rich Melzer and Jamar Smith and guard Charles Lee, each of who accepted camp invitations after playing for the Spurs' summer-league team. The Spurs are considering adding one more non-guaranteed contract to increase their roster to 20 before leaving for France in two weeks.



Teams are allowed to carry 15 players during the season, and the Spurs already have 14 with guaranteed contracts. Melzer, Smith, Lee, Reiner and any other camp invitees likely will compete with guard Melvin Sanders for the final opening.

Reiner, 6-foot-11, appeared in 19 games for Chicago during the 2004-05 season. He was cut by the Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix last season.

Lee, 6-3, was the Patriot League Player of the Year last season at Bucknell. After going undrafted, he averaged 4.7 points and 2.0 steals for the Spurs at the Rocky Mountain Revue.

Melzer, 6-8, was one of the Spurs' best performers in the summer, averaging 9.5 points and 4.3 rebounds. He split last season between the NBA's Development League and New Zealand.

Smith, 6-9, averaged 7.8 points and 4.6 rebounds for the Spurs' summer-league team. He played for Austin in the NBDL last season.

Notebook: The Spurs have hired ex-Indiana Pacers scout and University of South Carolina head coach George Felton as director of college player personnel.

melzer's stats look really nice. i didnt watch much of the summer league but if his defense is decent, iam sure bowen could turn him into a pretty good defender.