The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Countdown To Spain: Q&A With William Lee
7/30/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
July 30, 2014
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- Members of the UAB men's basketball team will sit down with UABSports.com over the next five weeks as the squad prepares for its foreign trip to Spain on Aug. 16-23.
Today's Q&A features incoming Blazer freshman William 'HaHa' Lee. A native of Plantersville, Ala., Lee was a highly-recruited prospect coming out of high school. Lee was the 2014 Alabama Sports Writers Association's Mr. Basketball and was the 2013-14 Gatorade Alabama Player of the Year.
Below is a Q&A with the Blazer forward:
Q: You are one of the most decorated recruits in UAB history. What does it mean to you to stay in state and play for UAB?
A: "It means a lot to me, as well as my family. Coach Haase is trying to turn the program around and give the UAB community the success they deserve. I am excited and honored to be a part of this process along with the rest of my teammates."
Q: Who is someone in your career that you idolize? Who do you look up to? Who has been the biggest influence on your career?
A: "Kenny Allen (Dallas County Assistant Coach). He is my mentor. He was the one who taught me how to play the game. Without him, I would not be in the situation I am today. I owe him a lot."
Q: People may not know this, but you were a member of your high school drama team. Are you a pretty good actor?
A: "(Laughing) Yeah…I think I’m a pretty good actor. It was cool. It was definitely a change of pace from basketball."
Q: What is a hobby that you have outside of basketball?
A: "Uh…a hobby outside of basketball? I would say hanging out with friends and family. Having fun. Really, I just don’t want to ever be sitting around and being lazy. That is extremely important to me. I always want to be active, even outside of basketball."
Q: What are your goals for your career? With this young team, what can UAB accomplish?
A: "I believe we can accomplish a lot as long as we continue to work hard and build team chemistry. We are definitely a young team, but in the coming years I am certain that this team can make the NCAA Tournament. Not only make the NCAA Tournament, but also be successful. And, after my career at UAB, I would like to play at the next level."
Q: Finally, how did you get your nickname “Ha-Ha”?
A: I got it from my granddaddy. As a baby, he said I was always happy and laughing all the time. One day, I guess I was laughing and my granddaddy decided to start calling me “Ha-Ha.” It has stuck ever since. But, when
I moved schools in 6th grade, no one at my new school knew my nickname. Then, one day, my sister busted into my classroom and I think she wanted to get some snack money from me. She yells out in front of the teacher and the whole class, “Where’s ‘Ha-Ha’?” All the kids busted out laughing and they definitely remembered my nickname from then on. If not for my sister, they wouldn’t have known otherwise. Except for that short time, I’ve always been “Ha-Ha"
For more information on the UAB men's basketball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_MBB). For more on all Blazer athletic teams follow @UABAthletics.
