NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Saben Lee has put together quite a junior season. Thus, his career is building into one of the better ones ever in a Vanderbilt uniform.
Lee goes into Wednesday’s game against Missouri ranking 31st on the program’s all-time scoring list with 1,227 points and is coming off a career-high, 34-point performance Saturday against Georgia.
“(Lee) puts in work before and after practice,” Vandy junior guard Max Evans said. “I’m just happy for him. It’s hard work so it has to translate to the game. He’s been on the big stage and performing well.”
Lee, a graduate of Corona del Sol High School in Tempe, Arizona, has scored at least 18 points in six straight games. Those contests are bookended by the 34-point game against Georgia and a 33-point outing against LSU on Feb. 5.
Only twice this season has Lee been held to single digits. He’s become the focal point of Vandy’s offense attack late in the season after sophomore guard and leading scorer Aaron Nesmith suffered a foot injury Jan. 8.
“I think we’ve been playing well as a team and (Lee) has been a huge part of that,” Vanderbilt head coach Jerry Stackhouse said. “We try to put the ball in his hands where he can get downhill and create for himself and create for his teammates. His been doing a really good job of both.”
Lee has slowly and steadily moved up Vanderbilt’s all-time scoring list thanks, in large part, for his ability to get to the basket. Night-in and night-out the 6-foot-2 guard seems to provide a highlight-reel type dunk or layup while in heavy traffic around the basket.
Shooting 47.1 percent from the floor, Lee has also found a knack for getting to the line. He now ranks 40th nationally with 167 free-throw attempts and 37th with 128 free throws made.
Lee’s 31 percent clip from beyond the arc has helped his point total. Stackhouse is excited about the possibilities of Lee’s production when that percentage improves in the 2020-21 season.
“I think he’s going to get better,” Stackhouse said. “He’s going to be a much better shooter down the road because he doesn’t have all the reps that he’s going to get to become the type of shooter that he’s capable of.”
Vanderbilt’s Saben Lee with 34 vs Georgia, overshadowed by a a buzzer-beater + an Edwards dunk.
Averaging 24.7 points last six. Driving machine, 37-62 on PnR takes to rim where he shoots 60%. Needs jumper but NBA burst/strength for finishing. Moved Lee top 50 last update in Jan. pic.twitter.com/YW69lFIH6H
— Jonathan Wasserman (@NBADraftWass) February 24, 2020
With five guaranteed games left on Vanderbilt’s schedule, Lee needs just 25 points to move into the top 30 on the program’s all-time scoring list. If he averages 17.4 points over those next five games, Lee will pass Damian Jones for 25th.
He’s 147 total points from moving into the top 20 past Jeff Roberson (1,373).
Lee also has 117 assists this season and 338 for his career. And he’s just 29 points away from finishing with one of the top 10 single scoring seasons for a junior in Vandy history.
“I think just trying to mix up his speeds, his read progressions of what he’s looking for in pick-and-roll coverages and his isolation drives as well,” Stackhouse said on what he’s challenged Lee to improve on. “He’s gotten better and better each day, each week.
“Really pleased with his progression and ability to make other guys better.”
Saben Lee everyone#SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/J7CvT3Hdsw
— Chad Bishop (@MrChadBishop) February 6, 2020
Chad Bishop covers Vanderbilt for VUCommodores.com. Follow him @MrChadBishop.
