Dallas County High School forward William Lee was honored on Thursday as one of the top basketball players in the state of Alabama.

Lee, a junior, was named the Class 4A Player of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association during their banquet in Montgomery on Thursday.

Lee said it’s a great honor to win the award.

“It’s a good feeling. It means a lot,” Lee said. “I think it shows I earned respect.”

Dallas County head boys basketball coach Willie Moore said he’s proud of the humility that Lee displayed when he was announced as the Class 4A Player of the Year.

“It was an honor for me as a coach to see one of my players get an award like this. I was just more proud that he was humble,” Moore said. “When he got up and gave his speech, he talked about his family, he talked about his teammates, he talked about his coaches, and he just talked about getting better. That’s just a culmination of his humbleness in the fact that he believes that he needs to continue to work hard.”

Lee is an instrumental part of the Hornets and a force under the basket. He averaged a triple double during his junior season, scoring around 19 points a game to go along with 15 blocks a contest, while consistently putting up double-digit rebounding performances.

But Moore said Lee’s always looking for ways to improve his game, which is why he has a bright future.

“I think the sky’s the limit for William. He’s constantly working on his game every day and his work ethic is beyond any player I’ve ever coached,” Moore said. “He’s always working on his weaknesses trying to make them strengths. He’s going to be a pro one day, no doubt.”

Lee said he’s grateful for what he’s accomplished this season, but he’s going to continue to work hard in the offseason.

“I think I accomplished a lot. We had a good year, even though we didn’t get as far as I wanted to,” Lee said, “but the season still was good. I’m getting ready for AAU and EYBL (Nike Elite Youth Basketball League). I’m trying to win the EYBL thing and make the McDonald’s All-American Team.”

Moore added that the award speaks volumes about all the hard work Lee puts in on the court.

“I think it’s a culmination of William’s hard work and the team’s success that we’ve had this year and since he’s been playing high school basketball,” Moore said. “He’s made tremendous strides individually working on his game. I think it’s a great honor for him, as well as his family, and our team and program for him to win this award.”