Clayton High senior Y’Zana Lee Randle received the inaugural Marlon Lee Scholarship on Senior Night during halftime at the Girls’ Varsity basketball game. The $1500 scholarship was presented by the Smithfield-Selma High Class of 1992. The Marlon Lee Scholarship, named after Randle’s father, who passed on May 25, 2025, was a proud product of Johnston County Public Schools.
The man, the myth, the legend
Lee graduated from Smithfield-Selma High Class of 1992, where he played on the Spartans basketball team. “It means a lot to me to be the first recipient of the Marlon Lee Scholarship. The fact that my dad’s good works were seen and valued by so many is a true reflection of his leadership,” Randle remarked.
He graduated from St. Augustine's University in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Education and a minor in marketing. In 2001, Lee came back to his Johnston County roots, joining Clayton High as a math teacher.
During Lee's nearly 25 years as a Clayton High Comet, he served as dean of students, student advocate, assistant athletic director, and head coach of both the Lady Comets girls’ varsity volleyball and basketball teams.
As the head coach of the girls’ varsity basketball team, Lee recorded over 270 wins, led the team to 13 state playoff appearances, and won four regular-season conference championships. His 2009–2010 team finished as the North Carolina High School Athletics Association (NCHSAA) East Region runner-up with a 28–3 record.
He was a four-time Coach of the Year winner and was selected as the head coach for the 2023 NC/SC Carolinas Basketball Classic All-Star Game. Lee led teams to multiple winning seasons, including a 21–2 record and a conference title in 2016. He achieved his 300th career win as a head coach in February 2025.
A pillar in the community
Lee was also active in the Smithfield community, and in 2013, he was elected to the Town Council as the representative for East Smithfield. As a member of the Smithfield Town Council, he championed initiatives such as the development of a community park, where he always gave back to the community through events such as Back to School, Easter, Christmas Toy Distribution, Youth Summer Camp, the Smith Collins Park Juneteenth Celebration, the revitalization of the Sarah Yard Center, and the recognition of local legends through street and other dedications.
Following in her father’s footsteps
Just as her father was a stand-out athlete, Randle has made a name for herself on the Lady Comets varsity basketball team, where Lee was also her coach until his passing in 2025. Randle plays as a guard and small forward.
During the 2025-2026 season, according to MaxPreps, she has scored 39 3-point field goals, ranking her 2nd in the Greater Neuse River Conference 7A. Randle has scored 101 field goals this season, averaging 15.7 points per game.
Randle was named as a 2025-2026 Greater Neuse River All-Conference player and finished off her high school basketball career by scoring her 1,000th point during a playoff game against Cardinal Gibbons.
Athletics aside, Lee passed strong values down to his daughter. “My dad taught me to put God first, work hard, and do my best in whatever I attempt. He also taught me to treat people the way I would want to be treated,” Randle said.
In Fall 2026, Randle will begin her college career majoring in business administration at North Carolina Central University.