Under then-head coach Johnny Dawkins, Stanford started recruiting Rivals100 Prolific Prep (Napa) forward Ira Lee during Lee's sophomore year. Naturally, the Cardinal developed a strong rapport with Lee during Dawkins' tenure.

But while Lee was sad to see Dawkins go, the coaching change has not hurt Stanford's chances with the four-star standout.

"The old Stanford staff, I started hearing from them when I was a sophomore," Lee said.

"I think I had a pretty good relationship with Coach Dawkins. I'm sorry to hear about what happened to him and his job. Overall my relationship with the other staff was pretty good. As far as the new coaching staff, I think it's even better. They really made a point to call me and come to my games and show that they're really genuine about building a relationship with me."

Lee said that Cardinal assistant Adam Cohen has been his primary point of contact on Stanford's staff.

"(Stanford's message to me is) obviously the head coach, he wants to win," Lee said. "He likes winning. He comes from a winning mentality. And he believes that if he gets the right players like myself, that's what he can do for Stanford."

Lee has yet to take a visit to Stanford (and he doesn't have one entirely set in stone), but he might soon. The nation's No. 48 prospect intends to get down to campus in the near future.

"I plan on taking one probably this month or next month," Lee said.

The trip would likely be unofficial in nature.

"Obviously I want to see how things work there, how he runs things," Lee said. "I've heard the campus is nice - everybody that I've talked to that has been there have all said it's probably the nicest campus in the country. So I have no doubt I'll have a great time there. And like I said, see how things are run and get a feel for the campus."

Currently, Lee knows that Stanford has some talented pieces - but he recognizes the Cardinal is a program in transition.

"Right now I know they're rebuilding, obviously," Lee said. "They have a couple of good players there right now like Cameron Walker. Really, it's just a rebuilding process right now. And I really believe if I went there, hypothetically speaking, I could do some big things for them and maybe put them back on the map."

Lee is ranked by Rivals.com as a power forward. But he's worked to expand his game and will bring a versatile skill set to the college of choice.

"(Stanford) sees me as a basketball player," Lee said. "They see me as playing inside and out. The first part of the spring that's what I've been doing - that's what my AAU coach challenged me to do, to be a point-forward or an all-around forward. I can do it all - if you need me to go inside, I'll go inside. If i have to go outside, then I have to go outside. And just being able to guard every position. So that's what they see me doing, just being real versatile."

Lee said that Texas, Kansas, Arizona, USC, Cal, Oregon and Stanford are the programs most involved in his recruitment at this time.

"(What I'm looking for in a school is) obviously if I would get the opportunity to play a big role as freshman, coaching style and just the way the play," Lee said. "That's a big thing. Are they a half-court team or are they a, 'We're going to get up and down type of team.'"