From follower to leader, it was a quick maturation process for Auburn’s Patreon Lee.

After all, the 6-foot-1 guard had little choice.

Not after seniors Gavin Strojan and Jason Brown sustained season-ending knee injuries before the basketball season began. That left Lee, a junior, as the Trojans’ only returning starter from last season.

“He’s kind of been thrust into a position where he’s the only guy with any experience returning,” said coach Ryan Hansen. “This is his team.”

With the return of Brown, Lee and Strojan, along with Highline transfer Zane Harshman, who led Auburn with 19 points in the team’s 81-77 season-opening loss Nov. 29 against North Thurston, the Trojans hoped to build on last season, when they finished with a 10-12 overall record.

“Both of those injuries were really tough because those are two powerhouses on our team,” Lee said. “Those are deep holes.”

But he acknowledged that he had to move past those injuries quickly.

“No one is going to feel sorry for us,” Lee said.

Hansen said Lee has adjusted well to his new role.

“I’ve seen some maturity out of him this year,” he said. “He’s practicing harder than he has in the past. He’s vocalizing his leadership more. I think he’s embracing the challenge that’s ahead of him to be the leader of the team.”

Lee said he looks toward his favorite player – Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James – for inspiration.

“I’ve always been a LeBron James fan,” Lee said. “I love how he plays basketball. He loves the game. He’s strong and tough. He does more than score – he plays all-around, and that’s what I like to see more as my game.”

Not many players in basketball history have possessed James’ talent as the 6-8 small forward has averaged 27.1 points per game during his 14-year NBA career. But Lee believes he can use a similar physicality at his position.

“I think I’m a bigger type of guard, which I can use to my advantage,” he said.

Lee, who maintains a 3.1 grade-point average, likes to bring an analytical perspective to the court. He took geometry in the past and likes to practice from different angles on the court. But in terms of his favorite spot, Lee keeps it simple.

“I like shooting at the top of the key,” he said.

But similar to former Auburn guard Tyler Pray, who was a senior last year, Lee works to keep maintain a multifaceted offensive arsenal.

“I love going to the basket,” Lee said. “I’m a really tough player.”

The Trojans will need it. In addition to suffering attrition, they now compete in the North Puget Sound League 4A. Their Olympic Division rivals include Federal Way, which has won the last two state championships.

“They’re really good players,” Lee said. “I’ve played against them all of my life.”

Of course, that is not the only difficult competition he has encountered. Lee said he started playing basketball as a 5-year-old after watching – and later playing with – his older brothers. One of them, Harold, starred for the Trojans before he graduated in 2013 and played at Highline College.

“I wanted to be like my older brothers,” Lee said.

Hansen anticipates Lee carrying on the family legacy of hardwood success.

“(Lee) is really going to have a breakout season this year,” he said. “I anticipate that.”