By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Cleveland, TN---Sophomore guard Jay Marquette signed a letter of intent today to play for Lee University next season.

Marquette started 21 of 36 games as a sophomore, while averaging 4.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and one steal per game last season. In his two-year career, he started 43 of 68 games and averaged 4.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, two assists and just over one steal per game. He totaled 332 points, 265 rebounds, 137 assists and 72 steals in those two years.

Most importantly, Marquette helped turn around an Express program that finished 10-21 the year before he arrived. In his two years, the team went 50-18, finished runner-up in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) twice, was Region XII District 11 runner-up as a freshman, captured the Region XII District 11 championship as a sophomore and advanced to the NJCAA D-II Final Four as a sophomore.

Marquette becomes the fourth Express sophomore to move on to a four-year school. He joins James Kelly (University of Miami Fla.), Justin Edmonds (Marshall University) and Joe Retic II (Liberty University). All three of those schools are NCAA D-I institutions. 

Coincidentally enough, Marquette joins Retic in joining schools with the Flames nickname.

Marquette is a graduate of Central Catholic High School in Toledo, Ohio.

The Lee Flames are currently an NAIA school, but is in the process of becoming NCAA D-II. Currently, they play in the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC). The team finished 30-4 overall last year and 16-2 in the SSAC. Their advanced to the NAIA Sweet 16.