Dallas County High School alumnus and UAB senior forward William “HaHa” Lee was selected to the preseason all-Conference USA team this past Wednesday.

“William has been the consummate team player,” his former high school coach William Moore said. “He was willing to do whatever it took for our team to be successful… It does not surprise me that he’s made the progression to the level that he has.”

The 6-foot-9 forward from Plantersville, led the Blazers with 13.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game last season.

Lee led the conference with 80 blocks last season and is currently 10th all-time in Conference USA history going into the 2017-18 season.

“HaHa has shown a unique ability to change the game on both ends of the floor,” UAB head coach Robert Ehsan told UAB athletics. “He’s certainly established himself as one of the top players in our league and is deserving of this honor.”

Lee is a two-time Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year recipient, and has also been selected to the All-Conference USA Second Team and All-Defensive team

This past Thursday, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced that Lee is one of the 20 student-athletes on the 2018 Karl Malone Award Watch List.

The Karl Malone Award is given to the top power forwards in Division I men’s college basketball.

Dallas County remembers Lee as the 2013-14 Gatorade Alabama Player of the Year that helped lead the 2014 DCHS basketball team to a state championship.

Moore and Lee have stayed in touch throughout his college career. Moore said they met for dinner and discussed his goals for his senior season just three weeks ago.

“He said he trained very well and had a very good pre-season,” Moore said. “He thinks [UAB] has an opportunity to be very good this year. He wants to be more dominant inside and out.”

Along with Moore, the Dallas County community is proud to see one of their own excelling at the next level. Not only did he help carry them to a state championship, but he continues to represent DCHS as he continues his playing career.

“Being able to coach William in high school was a joy, and to see him play at the collegiate level and do some of the same things to be a dominant player at UAB has been a blessing for us,” Moore said. “He’s represented our school and our community very well. For him to be the face of their program means a lot to us, and we’re going to enjoy his senior season along with him.”

The Blazers begin their season with an exhibition match at home against Morehouse College on November 2 at 7 p.m. in Bartow Arena.