Marcus Lee advances to Sweet 16 of The Basketball Tournament

Former Kentucky Wildcat, Marcus Lee, has advanced to the round of 16 in the annual event known as The Basketball Tournament. The simplistically yet somewhat ominously named tournament has become a lowkey highlight of summer hoops, featuring a unique mix of stars from the past, young up-and-comers, and players who have long hovered on the fringe of the professional ranks. The winning team wins $1 million to share amongst the players and staff.

Lee plays for the AfterShocks, who have made an early statement thus far, advancing past the B1 Ballers on Thursday by a score of 66-54, and then edging the Beale Street Boys 73-69 on Friday. The former ‘Cat and California transfer played 16 minutes in the first game, finishing with six points and four rebounds. He followed that up with a two-point, four-rebound performance in the AfterShocks’ second-round win.

The AfterShocks are led by Markis McDuffie and Conner Frankamp, both formerly of the Wichita State Shockers.

Get it? The AfterShocks?

Both McDuffie and Frankamp were members of the 2017 WSU team that fell to Kentucky in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Marcus Lee was not on that team, but he was on the roster of the 2014 Kentucky that beat then-undefeated Witchita State in the second round in what was one of the best tournament games in recent memory.

Evidently, they gave him a pass.

More Kentucky connections in The Basketball Tournament

In addition to Lee, Archie Goodwin is the only other former Kentucky player participating in the 64-team field. The former 5-star recruit and first-round pick in the NBA draft will suit up for the Eberlein Drive, who plays their first game on Tuesday at 9:00 p.m. in Lousiville at Freedom Hall. If you can’t attend or are worried you might be hit by some falling debris in one of the city’s older arenas, you can catch the game on ESPN+.

Similarly, future Kentucky Wildcat, Somto Cyril will play for Team Overtime in The Basketball Tournament. Their first game is Wednesday at 6:00 pm in Dayton and will also air on ESPN+. The four-star 2024 commit, who toyed with the idea of joining the team this season, is a 6-foot-10-inch, 250-pound big man who certainly looks the part. He likely won’t be eligible for a share of the prize money if his team were to win, but The Basketball Tournament should serve as a great experience for him as he enters his final year at Overtime Elite.

Marcus Lee The Basketball Tournament Stats

Player	Score	PTS	FG (3PT)	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	MIN	+/-
Marcus Lee (Aftershocks)	66-54 W vs. B1 Ballers (7/20)	6	3-5 (0-0)	3	0	0	0	1	16	+6
Marcus Lee (Aftershocks)	73-69 W vs. Beal Street Boys (7/21)	2	1-1 (0-0)	4	0	0	1	1	13	-21