Transfer Portal Bio Blast: Xaivian Lee

The NCAA Tournament is still ongoing, but the transfer portal waits for no one. With six outgoing seniors/graduates and one outgoing transfer, Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats will have to reload through the portal once again this offseason.

Tulane freshman forward Kam Williams is already on board. Who could be next?

6-foot-4 Princeton guard Xaivian Lee is in the portal with one year of eligibility remaining. Kentucky quickly reached out to the Toronto native, who is represented by George Langberg of GSL Sports Group, the same agent who represents Kentucky center Amari Williams.

NEW: Kentucky is involved with Princeton point guard transfer Xaivian Lee, source tells KSR+.

Lee is represented by @GeorgeSLangberg of GSL Sports Group. Langberg also represents Kentucky center Amari Williams

STORY: https://t.co/udZ9D1DmKw pic.twitter.com/NQJ6rLGQem

— Jacob Polacheck (@PolacheckKSR) April 4, 2025

Lee spent his first three seasons at Princeton and is looking to make a jump to the high majors. While also testing the NBA Draft waters, he expects to have plenty of suitors this offseason if he chooses a return to college. KSR’s Transfer Portal Bio Blast is taking a closer look at the college basketball free agent.

[KSR’s Kentucky MBB Transfer Portal Tracker]

An NBA Draft prospect as a sophomore

An Academic All-American and 2022 Canadian National Invitational Tournament MVP in high school, Lee started his college career at Princeton off the bench. He appeared in all 32 games in 2022-23 for the Tigers posting per-game averages of 4.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in 13.4 minutes. Princeton made the school’s first Sweet 16 since 1967. That was just his test run season — Lee’s development exploded as a sophomore in 2023-24.

Lee solidified himself as a potential NBA Draft prospect for Princeton in year two. His numbers skyrocketed: 17.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and one steal in 31.2 minutes per outing. Starting all 29 games played, the combo-like guard shot 45.1 percent from the field, 33.8 percent from deep, and 79.8 percent from the free throw line. All of this came with a high usage rate. As a result, he was named Unanimous First Team All-Ivy League for the first time. Lee hit the 30-point mark twice and recorded three double-doubles with rebounds.

That offseason, Lee tested the NBA Draft waters as a legitimate prospect before electing to return to Princeton for a junior season. He also has international experience with Team Canada at the FIBA U19 World Cup (2023).

Making history in 2024-25

Statistically, Lee produced a similar season as a junior compared to his sophomore campaign, but he was more productive in a handful of areas. He averaged 16.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.2 steals in 32.1 minutes per outing. Starting all 30 games, Lee shot 43.9 percent from the field, 36.6 percent from deep (5.4 attempts/game), and 78.9 percent from the line.

In a December win over St. Joe’s, he recorded the first triple-double in program history: 23 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists. He produced a 21-point, 11-assist double-double a few weeks later. Lee wasn’t done there though, posting another triple-double in the regular season finale: 23 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds in a win over Penn.

Lee’s 2.4 assist/turnover ratio was tops in the Ivy League. Once again, he was named Unanimous First Team All-Ivy League. Princeton ran into Yale (which wound up in the NCAA Tournament) in the first round of the conference tournament, losing 59-57 in a tight one. Lee registered 14 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and two steals in the defeat.

Advanced Stat Profile: Xaivian Lee

Lee was a high-usage guard during his last two seasons at Princeton. He played a heavy minutes load and had the ball in his hands more often than not. With a quick release and deep range on his shot, Lee was able to put up points in a hurry. Would he be a point guard or a two-guard at UK? It might not matter in Mark Pope‘s system, but he’s capable of filling in both roles.

Stat	Finish	Ranking
Assist rate	36.8	19th nationally
Percentage of possessions used	29.2	75th nationally
Percentage of minutes played	83.5	154th nationally
Defensive rebounding percentage	20.4	207th nationally

Lee’s also capable of getting to the line regularly, although his finishing touch was not spectacular (listed at only 180 pounds). Lee shot just 49.2 percent on “close 2” attempts, per BartTorvik, in 2024-25. His jump shot is a bit funky and erratic, but it looks cool when it falls. He has a herky-jerky way of getting into the lane. His defensive rebounding numbers stick out as a 6-foot-4 guard.

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