Hopkinsville High School senior Lee Lee Love put pen to paper and signed a national letter-of-intent to play basketball for Roane State Community College Tuesday afternoon in front of friends and family in Tiger Gym.
It was a moment that Love thought may never come as she started her high school career at University Heights Academy, but that program was discontinued following her sophomore season.
After averaging 11.1 points and 4.3 rebounds as a sophomore with the Lady Blazers, she found herself at Hoptown. Things didn’t go smoothly and she missed her junior season with the Lady Tigers due to an off-the-court incident at the school.
Sitting out the season made her miss the game although she continued playing with her AAU team as she waited for the 2024-25 season to come around. Once the season started, she was determined to make her dream of playing college basketball come true.
That dream came to fruition on Tuesday after she averaged 10.4 points and 9.5 rebounds this season.
Her time away from the court wasn’t totally lost. The then high school junior started her own clothing brand, “Wocky.” She plans to continue to grow her brand as she studies business entrepreneurship in college.
Love, who didn’t start playing organized basketball until age 12, gave credit to former UHA coach Derrick Hickman for his mentorship. She also said she chose Roane State after meeting with Head Coach Roger Parker and getting to know him.
Parker said he saw a lot of potential in Love the first time he saw her play and wanted to get her in the Lady Raiders’ program.
Hopkinsville High School Head Coach Keith Leslie said he was fortunate when Love transferred to Hopkinsville and he was happy for Love’s opportunity to further her athletic and educational career.
Love is the second Lady Tigers to sign a scholarship this spring after Alicia Davis, who also started her career at UHA, signed with Motlow State.
LaShanti Wilson is the third Lady Tiger expected to sign a basketball scholarship. HHS Athletics Director Jacob Ezell said Tuesday that a signing ceremony for Wilson is scheduled for May 19 in the school’s resource center.
Photos by Joe Wilson