Basketball A-List: Dallas County center and Alabama target William Lee has big dreams for senior season (video)

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William Lee, a 6-foot-9, is a force in high school basketball. (Selma Times-Journal)

PLANTERSVILLE, Alabama -- Dallas County senior William Lee has big goals for his senior season.

"I want to win 4A Player of the Year again and I want to win Mr. Basketball," he said, pausing for a few seconds before ending his thought by saying, "and win the state championship."

It's all possible.

The 6-foot-9 center won the Class 4A Player of the Year award last year by averaging 19.6 points, 17.5 rebounds and five assists per game. The Dallas County coaching staff credited him with 521 blocked shots, or more than 15 per game.

In a regional semifinal loss to Dora - with a stat crew at courtside - he tallied 16 points, 12 rebounds and 12 blocks.

"You can build a team around him," Dallas County coach Willie Moore said. "He's going to a be a pro one day."

Lee has narrowed his college choices to five schools -- Alabama, UAB, Georgia, Mississippi State and SMU. He initially planned to make his decision earlier this month, but postponed the announcement and has not revealed a timetable. An unscientific AL.com poll revealed that most fans expect him to pick Alabama.

The NCAA's early signing period starts on Nov. 13, but he could wait until after the season and use the spring signing period to sign scholarship papers.

All five schools remain rabid in their interest for Lee, evidenced by SMU coach Larry Brown - a Hall of Famer - making the trip to Plantersville to woo Lee.

Amid all the recruiting hoopla, Lee is also concentrating on team goals. He's never played in the Final 48 state tournament, and he said last year's season-ending loss to Dora fueled him the offseason.

"I've been thinking about that ever since we lost," Lee said. "Even in the AAU season, I was thinking about that and winning a state championship. If we win a state championship here, it'd be the first one in history, in Dallas County history. I just use that to go hard in practice. Like coach says, don't go through the motions and go hard at practice."

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