With tough season over, Saints look to get Wise

By Martin Vazquez

PHOTO CAPTION: Lee Wise will be looked to as a leader when the Saints take the court next year

The Saints men’s basketball team had a rollercoaster ride of a season filled with heartbreaking losses, usually three points or less.

With another season of men’s basketball in the books, many strong players are being noticed. One player in particular worth the spotlight is Lee Wise.

Wise, a junior and starting guard for Flagler, is a fire starter when on the court. He was ranked as the second best three-point shooter in the NAIA during conference play and was one of the best clutch shooters in the league.

This season Wise shot an amazing 55.2 percent from outside the 3-point arc in conference play. He was short of first place by 0.2 percent.

“I decided to step it up since I was a junior,” Wise said.

Wise’s mother Mercedes Morris was also a very gifted basketball player. She taught him from a very young age how to play the game.

“I’ve been playing ever since I could dribble,” Wise said. He joked that after he was born, he left the hospital already carrying a basketball.

Wise had some off court issues at the beginning of the season, but came on very strong once he became a starter.

“When he got more minutes, his confidence went up. He really took advantage of that opportunity,” said Saints Coach Bo Clark. “He came on in the second half of the year, and not only handled the ball well, but really hit clutch shots for us.”

This season the Saints were a young team, the youngest team Clark had ever coached. “I think they played like sophomores or juniors. They adjusted to the game quickly as the year went on,” said Wise. “At the beginning of the season, I thought we were on the path to nationals.”

While the team will still be relatively young next season, Wise will be one of the players that are looked at as a leader on a growing team.
“I’m hoping for Lee to be more of a leader and a captain,” Clark said. “He knows the program, he knows the system, and he knows me. He has the potential to be the vocal leader.”