Making one of the biggest jumps by a Canadian in recent NCAA history from relatively unknown to potential NBA prospect, Xaivian Lee continues to amaze. The Toronto native’s latest feat? Delivering Princeton’s first-ever triple-double in program history during Tuesday night’s 77-69 victory at Saint Joseph’s Hagan Arena.
The writing was on the wall early. Lee has flirted with triple-doubles before, often missing out on an assist here or a rebound there. But this night felt different – by the first media timeout, the six-foot-four, 180-pound junior guard had already collected four rebounds and three assists, setting the stage for what would become a historic 18-point, 13-rebound, 10-assist performance.
St. Joe’s coach Billy Lange, who spent six years as an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers before taking the job on Hawk Hill in 2019, offered high praise for Lee’s performance: “He’s just unique. There’s no one else really (like him) in college basketball,” Lange said. “He’s got like the moxie of Devin Booker. There just aren’t many guys who I’ve gone against who are like him.”
Lee, humbled by the comparison to the Phoenix Suns star, responded: “I love Devin Booker’s game, so that’s definitely cool. They are very well coached and he’s a good coach so that means a lot coming from him. I’ve never got that one before. That’s a good comparison.”
The historic night unfolded like a well-scripted drama. After securing the double-double early in the second half with points and rebounds, Lee found himself two assists shy of history as the clock ticked under three minutes. With the Tigers determined not to repeat last season’s disappointment in this building, Lee took control.
First, he demonstrated his clutch gene, draining a crucial three-pointer over the 6’9″ Rasheer Fleming to push Princeton ahead 66-62. He followed that with a spectacular left-handed scoop shot over Derek Simpson’s tight defense.
Then came the moment of truth. Lee found Philip Byriel for his sixth three-pointer of the night, recording assist number nine. With 1:16 remaining, history beckoned. Lee delivered a perfectly timed feed to his best friend Caden Pierce for an and-one opportunity, cementing his place in both Princeton and Canadian basketball lore.
“It feels great,” Lee said of his historic achievement. “The stats might look crazy in terms of assists, but that’s because Phil was hitting a lot of shots. I wanted to knock that off because I had come close a couple of times. It was more just playing good basketball together.”
Fourth Canadian triple-double against DI opponent in NCAA history
The Toronto guard’s achievement adds him to an exclusive list of Canadian basketball royalty who have accomplished the triple-double feat at the Division I level.
R.J. Barrett was the most recent, recording his memorable performance for Duke in 2019 against NC State with 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. Before Barrett, it was Syracuse’s Leo Rautins who dominated the early 1980s with three career triple-doubles, including a sterling 13-point, 13-assist, 11-rebound performance against Boston College in 1983.
Lee’s statistical masterpiece carried additional weight as it marked Princeton’s first triple-double in program history – a remarkable fact considering the institution’s rich basketball tradition dating back to the early 20th century.
Even Princeton legend Bill Bradley, who went on to NBA and political fame, never recorded a triple-double, though it’s worth noting assists weren’t officially tracked by the NCAA until the 1974-75 season.
The historic performance wasn’t just about the numbers. Lee’s command of the game was evident in every facet, from his court vision to his unexpected dominance on the glass despite being a guard. He even added two steals to his stat line while shooting an efficient 7-of-14 from the field, including that crucial three-pointer late in the game.
As Princeton continues its promising 7-3 season, Lee’s triple-double serves as both a milestone moment and a reminder of Canada’s growing influence on NCAA basketball. With a record 170 Canadians currently playing in NCAA Division I men’s basketball, the northern pipeline continues to strengthen.
Among this talented contingent, Lee stands alone as the only Canadian to rank in the top ten in points, rebounds, and assists in the 2024-25 Canadian NCAA stats tracker.
Lee, who is already on NBA scouts’ radar, is averaging 15.1 points, 5.5 assists, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.1 steals for the Tigers. His ability to elevate his performance in a pivotal game against a strong opponent underscores his potential to make waves at the next level.
For a program that has produced numerous NBA players and maintained a strong tradition of excellence, having its first triple-double authored by a Canadian player speaks volumes about the evolution of both Princeton basketball and the Canadian pipeline to Division I excellence.
