Kansas State's Ayoka Lee still progressing, about '85%' right now in rehab from knee injury
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jeff Mittie trusts Ayoka Lee knows her knee better than he does.
The Kansas State women's basketball coach said Tuesday during Big 12 media days in the T-Mobile Center that Lee, a preseason all-conference selection, is at about 85% health and trending upward as the Wildcats get set to begin the 2023-24 season.
"She's able to do full-court contact, but only one trip at a time," Mittie said. "We'll probably get her to three or four trips by the end of the week, and then we'll get her to two or three minutes, so she's on the right path to not have any real restrictions once we get to games."
During the press conference portion of media days, Mittie said K-State didn't defend the rim particularly well last season. That was in no small part due to Lee's absence.
The 6-foot-6 senior out of Byron, Minnesota, has now had surgery on both of her knees and missed all of the 2022-23 campaign. She also redshirted as a freshman while recovery from surgery on her other knee.
Lee has progressed to the point of full-contact practicing in half-court settings. While sitting out last year was difficult, Lee said her confidence has started to grow in the rehabilitation.
During the 2021-22 season, Lee was named to multiple all-America teams, set the Division I record for points in a single game with 61 and averaged 22.0 points and 10.3 rebounds a game.
"Every week coming off this specific injury," Lee said, "I think it definitely has been very intentional, very active role I have to take in telling myself that I can do things well and do things to a level better that what it was when I was playing two years go.
"I think it's been great. I think it continues to grow every week with practice, which is just in my mind so exciting to see where it will be in a few weeks."
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Kansas State's Ayoka Lee still progressing, about '85%' right now
