Junior star guard Xaivian Lee's agent announced via ESPN on Friday that he intends to enter the transfer portal. Lee will maintain his college eligibility and also test the National Basketball Association (NBA) draft process once more, doing so less than a year after withdrawing from the 2024 NBA Draft to return for his junior season at Princeton.
“These past three years at Princeton have been the most meaningful of my life,” Lee wrote in a statement posted to his Instagram story. “This place has shaped me as a person and challenged me. It gave me a platform to chase my dreams and now Princeton is a place I know I can always call home.”
Lee enters the portal with a “Do Not Contact” tag, a designation indicating that he is proactively managing his recruitment and does not wish to be approached by programs unless he or his agent initiates contact.
The decision comes after a season in which the Ivy League preseason favorite Tigers fell in the Ivy Madness semifinals and assistant coaches Brett MacConnell and Lawrence Rowley were not retained. MacConnell recruited Lee, who emerged as a standout following his rookie year.
"Xaivian shared his decision to enter the transfer portal," Head Coach Mitch Henderson ’98 wrote to the Daily Princetonian. "He's a tremendous member of this program and we support him in exploring what's best for him as a person, student and basketball player"
In two seasons as a starter, Lee has cemented himself as one of the best players ever to wear the Orange and Black. A two-time unanimous first team All-Ivy selection, this season Lee became the first Tiger to record a triple-double, after an 18 point, 13 rebound, and 10 assist performance against St Joe’s. Lee secured a second triple-double in the Tigers' final game of the regular season against Penn.
Across his sophomore and junior seasons, Lee consistently delivered. In the 2023–24 season, he averaged 17.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, becoming one of just five underclassmen nationally to average at least 16 points, five rebounds, and three assists.
He followed that up with an even stronger junior campaign, posting 16.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game while leading the Ivy League in assist-to-turnover ratio. Lee notched two 30-point games in each of the past two seasons and hit game-winners against Columbia and Dartmouth.
“To my teammates — ya'll know what it is,” Lee wrote. "There's no other group I would've rather gone through the ups and downs with.”
While many expected Lee to declare for the NBA Draft after this season, transferring was thought to be less likely. The latest Bleacher Report mock draft projects him as the 52nd overall pick.
In the modern National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the high levels of name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation attracts successful student athletes to stay in college and forgo the pros for a year or two. Lee's decision represents this fundamental change in collegiate sports.
Lee immediately becomes one of the most sought-after players in the transfer portal and is expected to draw interest from high-major programs across the country. Given his recent success, Lee will receive significant NIL interest, with offers likely exceeding seven figures.
Without Lee, the Tigers lose their primary playmaker and leader, and the outlook for next season becomes far less clear. While players like sophomore guard Dalen Davis and junior forward Caden Pierce, a former Ivy League Player of the Year, are expected to take on larger roles, his departure could prompt others to re-evaluate their own futures with the program.
With Lee now in the portal, he is eligible to be contacted by other programs immediately. The spring transfer window closes on May 1, giving him a few weeks to weigh his options before making a decision.
Lee ended his statement by saying, “To the faculty, fans, and community — I wouldn't be much without you. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to represent you, I have nothing but love and gratitude for the school. I hope you continue to follow my story as I willl always do the same."
This story is breaking and will be updated as more details emerge.
Hayk Yengibaryan is an associate News editor, senior Sports writer, and education director for the ‘Prince.’ He is from Glendale, Calif.
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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