Getty Image
Princeton point guard Xaivian Lee is in the midst of a strong sophomore season, leading the Tigers to their best start in over a century. The second-year player has posted career-highs in points, rebounds, assists, and steals.
As a result, his team is 9-1 through 10 contests as it eyes another NCAA Tournament appearance.
Lee was a member of last year’s squad that made an improbable run to the Sweet 16, knocking off second-seeded Arizona and seventh-seeded Missouri in back-to-back games.
The 15-seed fell just short of an Elite 8 after losing 86-75 to Creighton.
Still, the Tigers were able to ruin more than a few March Madness brackets along the way.
While Lee was a part of that lineup, he played in a reserve role. He appeared in 32 outings but failed to make a start. That’s changed in Year 2.
The guard has started each of Princeton’s first 10 matchups, leading the team at a clip of 19.5 points per night.
And he’s done it with flash, putting his handles on full display for the college basketball world.
@brhoops Princeton guard Xaivian Lee is a HOOPER 🔥🔥 #basketball #sports ♬ original sound – brhoops
The on-court performance helped Princeton win their first nine games to tie the best mark in program history. The Tigers previously got off to 9-0 starts in the 1914-15 season and the 1919-20 campaign.
Unfortunately, they just missed a 10-0 start after falling to St. Joe’s, 74-70.
Xaivian Lee is an Econ major that starred in the FIBA U19 World Cup
When not playing for the Tigers, the Toronto native has been representing his country. As a member of Team Canada’s FIBA U19 squad, he averaged 14.1 points over seven games to pace the group.
Canada advanced to the quarterfinals in that tournament before falling to Turkey. He spoke a little about that experience before the season started.
@deneversrak1 Interjú Xaivian Leevel a Princeton egyetem játékosával Hasonló posztokért kövessétek a hoopdreamershun instagramját #kosárlabda #sport #magyar #CapCutVelocity #interjú #xaivian #princeton #kosárlabda🏀🏀 #kosár #magyarorszag #sporthírek ♬ eredeti hang – Zsombor (Tyler Herro guy)
Most impressively, he’s done this while managing in Ivy League classroom workload, majoring in Economics. The Class of 2026 student was a Cum Laude Society Inductee according to his Princeton athletics bio, as well as an NHSCA Academic All-American and a Phi Beta Kappa (Senior Academic & Integrity) Award winner.
The successes have continued both in the classroom and on the court thus far.
Over his first 10 matchups this year, Lee has notched scoring totals of 30, 24, 23, and 20, reaching double figures in every game to date. That includes 20-point performances in each of his last three outings.
Lee and the Tigers will look to keep the momentum rolling as Princeton eyes another Ivy League title.