Junior wide receiver emerging at Allen

After a state championship playoff run in 2008, Allen (Texas) High School is looking for similar success in 2009 and the run will begin on Saturday against Irving (Texas) Nimitz. The Allen sideline will be full of players that know what it takes to win in Texas' competitive 5A classification with quarterback Matt Brown returning along with players like offensive tackle Cedric Ogbuehi. However, one of the key instruments to this season's 9-1 regular season has been a brand new edition.

Wide receiver Jonathan Lee transferred to Allen High School this fall from McKinney North and he has made a huge impact on this season's success. With the departure of players like wide receiver Uzoma Nwachukwu to graduation, Lee has been a big success filling in with offensive fire power.

Through the first nine games of the season, the junior had already put up 39 catches for 723 yards and 14 touchdowns and has been the big play threat for Allen's explosive offensive attack.

"Things have been going good," Lee said of the season. "We've just been working hard and playing hard and everything's been working out. We just have to keep playing like we are right now."

Lee has been a new face as an explosive offensive threat not only because of his transfer but also because he's new to the position of wide receiver. He played strictly defense at McKinney North.

"I played receiver but I was behind a senior so they just let me play safety," he said of his sophomore season. "I've been wanting to play receiver for a long time so I just came and played receiver here. I had to get used to the offense first before I got in the flow but it's going good now."

Lee, who thrives making the big play in clutch situations, has caught some eyes from college coaches. Schools such as Notre Dame, Kansas and Big 12 programs walk into the Allen halls not knowing about the junior receiver and leave excited about his ability. For his part, Lee grew up a fan of Oklahoma.

"It's been OU and Kansas mostly right now," he said. "I've gotten letters and been invited to games and stuff. I guess OU was the school a grew up cheering for but I'm still looking for other schools. That's the team I was drawn to when I was little but I gotta keep my options open."

With plenty of opportunities to pursue his recruitment in the offseason, Lee is now more focused on pursuing a ring. And he's in the right program to make that happen.

"I'm very excited. It would be my first time to win a championship so I want to go at it and get a ring."