Lee headed out west, officially transfers to Cal

Forward+Marcus+Lee+shoots+a+free+throw+during+the+Wildcats+game+against+the+Stony+Brook+Seawolves+during+the+first+round+of+the+NCCA+tournament+at+Wells+Fargo+Arena+on+March+16%2C+2016+in+Des+Moines%2C+Iowa.+Photo+by+Taylor+Pence

Forward Marcus Lee shoots a free throw during the Wildcat’s game against the Stony Brook Seawolves during the first round of the NCCA tournament at Well’s Fargo Arena on March 16, 2016 in Des Moines, Iowa. Photo by Taylor Pence

Anthony Crawford

After deciding that he would not be returning to UK after pulling his name out of the draft, Marcus Lee was almost certainly heading out west to play closer to home. That move was confirmed Monday with the announcement of Lee signing to play for the California Golden Bears.

University of California, Berkeley was in Lee’s initial list of college choices during his recruitment and the transfer brings him closer to his hometown in Antioch, California.

Lee will have to sit out a year due to NCAA transfer rules but head coach Cuonzo Martin and the Golden Bears are excited about the addition.

“We’re very excited to have Marcus Lee be a part of our basketball family,” Martin said. “Marcus brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our program. He’s contributed and won at a high level in high school as well as in college.”

Lee will have only one year of eligibility for Cal in the 2017-18 season.