Former Midlands area standout to take over Spring Valley basketball program
Spring Valley has found its next boys basketball coach.
Former Ridge View High standout and current Lakewood High head coach Cam Lee will be the Vikings’ new coach. Lee’s hire was made official at Thursday’s Richland 2 School Board meeting.
Lee was one of five finalists for the job, Spring Valley athletic director John Combs said. Combs and Lee have a connection, with Lee playing for Combs at Ridge View.
“It means a lot to have a relationship with Coach Combs already,” Lee told The State. “I know how he operates and his style. Being able to work to under him is a blessing.
“… It is a great opportunity all around. I am just ready to get to work.”
Lee said he has been wanting to get back to Columbia the last few years. He still lived in Columbia and drove to Lakewood each day.
Lee replaces Cypheus Bunton, who resigned in February after five seasons. The Vikings went 10-16 this season, losing in the first round of the playoffs.
Lee has been the head coach at Lakewood for the past four seasons, with the best year coming in 2023-24 when the Gators went 14-13 and lost in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs. He was named Region 5-4A Coach of the Year that season.
Before Lakewood, Lee was an assistant coach for four seasons at his alma mater, Ridge View, where he was an all-state player and helped the Blazers to the Class 4A championship game.
As an assistant, Lee was part of the Blazers’ three state championship squads under coach Yerrick Stoneman.
After high school, Lee played at Francis Marion and then for Cameron University, a Division II school in Oklahoma. He played professionally in Luxembourg and Spain four seasons before returning to the United States and getting into coaching.
“We are excited to welcome Coach Lee back to Richland Two and now into the Viking family,” Combs said. “Coach Lee (has) great energy and passion for helping students. His experience in multiple successful basketball programs as a player and coach will serve him well as we build our basketball program.”
Lee said he will be putting a staff together and hopes to finalize it in the next few weeks.
Spring Valley will be staying in Class 5A in the 2026-28 SC High School League realignment. The Vikings will be in Region 4-5A, with Richland 2 schools Blythewood and Ridge View plus Gray Collegiate and Sumter. Ridge View has won three straight state championships and Blythewood and Gray also have recently played for or won state titles in the last three years.
“There is no easy nights in our region,” Lee said. “There is a lot of competition and that is something I relish. Just to get the opportunity to get this thing back where it needs to be. I know they have a lot of tradition and pride. So it is an honor to lead this program, and I am up for the challenge.”
This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 8:43 PM.
