Texas Longhorns guard Jordan Lee has become one of the breakout names in women’s college basketball, and much of her foundation traces back to her family.
Her parents, Roderick Lee and Georgia Kovich-Lee, both played collegiate basketball in Canada, and their influence shaped the player Jordan is today.
Roderick and Georgia’s Basketball Roots
Roderick Lee played college basketball at the University of Ottawa, while Georgia Kovich-Lee suited up for Brock University.
Neither parent went on to a professional career, but the game stayed part of their lives long after college ended.
Both are Canadian, and their basketball background gave Jordan an early introduction to the sport, even though they made a point of not pushing their daughters into it.
Jordan’s first real basketball memories come from playing alongside her older sister on a local boys’ team in Stockton, California, coached by their father. She barely got the ball back then, but the experience of being part of a team stuck with her more than the competition itself.
Roderick’s own background adds another layer to the family story. A former drill sergeant who served across three branches of the U.S. military, he brought a sense of structure and discipline into his daughters’ upbringing.
He often took the girls along to drill practice, and he has said that while he may have influenced Jordan’s love of routine, her drive and ambition came entirely from within her. He coached her for several years, working with her on footwork, angles, and the mental side of the game, and he was one of the first people to believe in her potential.
A Family Built on Support, Not Pressure
Jordan is not an only child. Her older sister, Sophia Lee, played a different but equally important role in her development.
Sophia went on to play college basketball herself and now plays as a guard at Sacramento State, but growing up, she was best known as Jordan’s biggest supporter, someone who showed up for the tough losses and the big wins alike.
That kind of steady support helped Jordan build the habits that now define her. By middle school, she was already organizing her life around basketball, starting with a color-coded sticky note system her father helped her set up.
That early habit eventually grew into the detailed, color-coded scheduling system she still uses today as a biology major working toward a future in dermatology.
From Stockton Gyms to the Texas Spotlight
The Lee family’s commitment to the sport went beyond casual support. During the pandemic, when most gyms in Stockton were closed, Jordan still found her way to the one open gym in the city for early morning sessions.
During her senior year of high school, Roderick showed up at her school during lunch periods to help her fit in extra workouts.
That work ethic carried her through a standout high school career and into Texas, where she has developed into a key piece of head coach Vic Schaefer’s roster.
Her parents’ basketball background in Canada may not have led to professional careers, but it planted the seed for a family built around discipline, teamwork and quiet perseverance, values that now show up every time Jordan Lee steps onto the court for the Longhorns.