Despite the COVID-19 pandemic providing an additional year of eligibility for every college student-athlete, Arizona Wildcats senior forward Ira Lee tweeted after the UA's season-ending loss to Oregon on Monday that he will forego one more season in Tucson, and leave the program.
Lee played in 113 games for the Wildcats over four years — and eight starts, including Arizona's home finale win against Washington Saturday. Lee finished his career averaging 3.9 points and 3.2 rebounds per game mostly as a reserve power forward.
"My basketball career at Arizona has came to an end tonight! I have so many emotions and memories that I could write a book," Lee tweeted. "These 4 years have been eye-opening and a lot of fun. Love you guys forever and thankful to be a Wildcat for life."
The University of Arizona Then and Now. Black and white photos from the Arizona Daily Star and Tucson Citizen archives paired with a color photo of the way the scene looks today. Produced by Rick Wiley / Arizona Daily Star
The 6-foot-8-inch, 245-pound Los Angeles native signed with the Wildcats' star-studded recruiting class 2017 that featured top NBA draft pick Deandre Ayton, four-star New York guard Brandon Randolph, five-star wing Emmanuel Akot and Phoenix-area guard Alex Barcello. Ayton and Randolph turned pro, while Akot and Barcello transferred before the 2019-20 season, so Lee was the only member of the '17 class to play at the UA for four years.
When Lee was honored on Senior Day on Saturday, he was the first four-year scholarship player to participate in the ceremony since Dusan Ristic and Parker Jackson-Cartwright in 2018.
Lee also dealt with personal life struggles during his time at the UA. In 2018, Lee was arrested for DUI, and was suspended for Arizona's home opener against Houston Baptist. The day before his arrest, Lee's grandmother died. Arizona coach Sean Miller said then that Lee was "hit with more in the last three or four months than a lot of people are going to be hit with in their entire lifetime.”
After growing from his tribulations, Lee returned to the Wildcats' rotation and finished his four-year career at the UA.
With Lee's departure, it's unclear how Arizona's frontcourt could look for the 2021-22 season. The Wildcats don't have any forwards or centers signed to their 2021 recruiting class and the frontcourt rotation currently features Azuolas Tubelis, Christian Koloko, Jordan Brown and French big Daniel Batcho, who missed his freshman season with a knee injury.
Following Arizona's loss to Oregon, Miller didn't rule out the possibility of returning graduate transfer guard Terrell Brown Jr.
"In the next couple of weeks, we'll make sure we'll have meetings with each player," Miller said. "They're able to come back. I think the lion's share will. ... I'll have a pretty good sense of who's going to come back, and it's exciting to think about."
Photos of famous musicians who have jammed out in Tucson
Ron Wood, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards with the Rolling Stones perform at the Tucson Community Center July 21, 1978.
The "Piano Man" Billy Joel performs at the Tucson Community Center on November 14, 1978.
Rocker Elton John shows some of his moves at the Tucson Community Center Arena on October 1, 1975.
August 27, 1977: Somewhere under all those people is the football field at Arizona Stadium during the Fleetwood Mac concert.
Brad Palmer, left, and Dewey Bunnell of America played at Centennial Hall Oct. 21, 1987.
Bruce Johnston, Carl Wilson and Al Jardine in forefront of a song. The Beach Boys played at Hi Corbet field May 4, 1985.
Brian Wilson, Al Jardine and Mike Love do their stuff on stage at the University of Arizona's McKale Center April 24, 1978.
Mike D. of the Beastie Boys thrilled the audience of 2,430 at Sunday's Concert. They played the Tucson Convention Center's old Exhibition Hall Oct. 25, 1992.
Joe Elliott led Def Leppard through an energetic show. Def Leppard played at the Tucson Convention Center Dec. 26, 1992.
Def Leppard's Steve Clark jams at the TCC. The group played the Tucson Convention Center Nov. 18, 1987.
Joe Walsh, Randy Meisner, Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Don Felder, of the Eagles played at the University of Arizona McKale Center Oct. 16, 1976.
Kenneth E. Carter performs with the Guess Who at the Tucson Community Center Aug. 10, 1986.
K.K. Downing, lead guitarist of Judas Priest plays at the Tucson Community Center Arena June 9, 1980.
The Judds performed at the Tucson Convention Center March 7, 1991.
James "J.T." Taylor and Kool and the Gang performed at the Tucson Community Center May 10, 1987.
The Platters let to right, Bernette Murphy, Ricky Lane, Dexter Dickerson and Bill Williams performed at the Doubletree Inn March 18, 1977.
Peter, Paul and Mary performed at the University of Arizona Main Auditorium April 30, 1983.
Carlos Santana jams during a performance at the Pima County Fairgrounds Sept. 1, 1991.
The stage is set for The Who at Sun Devil Stadium Oct. 31, 1982. No, the concert wasn't in Tucson, but we included them anyway.
The Who: John Entwistle, Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, Tim Gorman (a touring member) and Kenney Jones perform at Sun Devil Stadium Oct. 31, 1982. No, the concert wasn't in Tucson, but we included them anyway.
Dwight Yoakam performed at the Tucson Convention Center June 16, 1993.
Dwight Yoakam performed at the Tucson Convention Center Sept. 20, 1989.
Neil Young performed at the Tucson Convention Center Nov. 13, 1986.
ZZ Top in concert at the University of Arizona McKale Center Aug. 12, 1991.
ZZ Top in concert at the University of Arizona McKale Center Aug. 12, 1991.
Diana Ross at McKale Center October 3, 1983. Photo by Joy Wolf / Arizona Daily Star
David Bowie in concert at the Tucson Community Center on Sept. 13, 1974. The TCC was set up for 9,500, but only sold tickets to 4,032 fans.
