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Former Pike Liberal Arts star baseball player Darryl Lee announced on Tuesday his intention to transfer to Bethune-Cookman University.

Lee earned All-State honors as a senior at Pike Lib in 2022, helping the Patriots to an AISA State Championship. Lee also played at Charles Henderson before transferring to Pike. He started his college career at Coastal Alabama Community College in Bay Minette.

Lee finished the 2024 season earning All-ACCC First-Team honors after posting a .337 batting average with a .629 slugging percentage and .500 on-base percentage. He earned 12 doubles, two triples, 12 home runs, 13 stolen bases, 43 RBIs and 61 runs on the season. As an outfielder on defense, Lee boasted a .992 fielding percentage with 127 putouts, four assists and one double play. Lee was tied for third in the ACCC in home runs and fifth in on-base percentage.

Lee pointed to new Coastal coach JD Pruitt as being a key to his success. Pruitt is a longtime high school baseball coach in the area, having served at Enterprise and Spanish Fort before making the move to college baseball.

“My first year was tough, we went 15-39, but Coach Pruitt really helped turned things around for the team and for me,” Lee said. “He helped me turn things around mentally, physically and in every aspect of the game to help build me up. I can say that he is the biggest reason for the success I had this season.”

Lee decided to commit to Bethune-Cookman after falling in love with the campus and area in Florida.

“Whenever I went for my visit to Daytona Beach (Fla.), as soon as I got into Daytona it just screamed home,” Lee emphasized. “You have everything there around you, you have the beach. It just screamed home to me.

“The campus was great and they have really nice facilities. I got to meet the weight coach, the athletic director and the whole coaching staff. They have a really great all-around staff. I just loved it there.”

Bethune-Cookman has a tradition of winning and Lee, who is majoring in psychology, is eager to help build on that tradition.

“I just want to be an impact guy and help keep the success going at the program,” said Lee. “They’ve won 30 games in each of the last two season and beat Miami (Fla.) last year. Bethune-Cookman has a really tough schedule there in Florid and I just want to help that winning tradition continue on. I’m excited to get started.”