KANNAPOLIS — A.L. Brown quarterback Josh Lee has given a verbal commitment to play football at Western Carolina University this fall. Lee will sign officially on Feb. 7.

Lee was the Wonders’ starting quarterback on the varsity for just one season. He made All-South Piedmont Conference as a linebacker his junior year when Justin Hardin (now at The Citadel) was the starting signal-caller, then made all-conference as a quarterback as a senior.

Lee’s most memorable two games came late in his junior year when Hardin was hurt. Lee played both quarterback and linebacker in those two games and led the Wonders to a pair of huge wins over playoff-bound rivals.

Lee has been chosen to play in the East-West All-Star Game this summer, where he’ll join North Rowan center Jarrett Wishon. A.L. Brown coach Ron Massey will also be part of the contest.

Lee completed 54 percent of his passes last season and threw for 1,062 yards and 14 touchdowns. Four of his TD tosses came in the Wonders’ two playoff games. He had an 11-game stretch without an interception for an 11-2 squad and added 400 yards rushing.

The recruitment of Lee, 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, was unusual, because he is such a versatile athlete.

Among Lee’s finalists, Rutgers wanted him as a tight end and Wofford liked him as a linebacker. Western and Davidson were among the schools, which felt his future was at quarterback.

Western, which run a pro-set offense which calls for a dropback QB, would seem like an ideal fit for Lee, who has size and arm strength. Lee has 4.7 speed in the 40-yard dash.

Western was apparently the first college to express serious interest in Lee. According to Joel Lee, Josh’s father, the Catamounts first inquired about his son when he was a jayvee freshman running the Wonder scout team.

Lee made his official visit to Cullowhee two weeks ago and was ready to commit on the spot. His dad asked that he take a few days to think things over, but Josh was sold on Western. He recently called the school and agreed to accept a grant-in-aid.

Lee is also expected to return to the baseball diamond this season, where he is a power-hitting first baseman for coach Empsy Thompson’s troops.