Lee played high school basketball at
West Memphis High School in
West Memphis, Arkansas. The 1979–80 team is considered by many to be the top high school basketball team in Arkansas history, going undefeated for a 30–0 record. After losing future NBA player
Michael Cage to graduation, the 1980–81 team went undefeated as well and set the longest winning streak for high school basketball in the state at 60 consecutive wins. One of the most renowned players in Tiger basketball history, Keith Lee came to the University of Memphis in 1981–82 and made an immediate impact on the program. During his four-year career, Memphis State compiled a record of 104–24, and made three NCAA tournament appearances (including one trip to the
Final Four). Lee also guided the team to three Metro Conference titles, a school record 31 wins in 1984–85 and helped land the Tigers in the final Associated Press Top 20 poll all four seasons. The four-time Associated Press All-American was Metro Conference Player of the Year in 1982 and 1985 and was named to 29 All-American teams. He is the Tigers all-time leading scorer with 2,408 points (18.8) and all-time leading rebounder with 1,336 (10.4). Lee has the high honor of being the first-ever four-time All American. Lee was drafted by the
Chicago Bulls in the
1985 NBA draft. In 1985, Keith Lee helped lead the
Memphis State Tigers to the
1985 Final Four and was also a first team All-American. He was the first Tiger to earn AP All-America honors four times (first team as a senior). Lee helped the Tigers compile a 104–24 record with four NCAA appearances from
1982 to 1985. His 2,408 career points are a Tiger record, and his number was retired in 1985. ==Professional==