Lambert
Analysis

Lambert Play Date Top Performers

Damareon Whitner2022 6-5 PF Damareon Whitner – Monroe Area
JUCOs and non-D-I’s will want to keep an eye on Damareon Whitner, a physically imposing battering ram that throws his weight around and can score inside. Whitner is a bruiser that lets opponents feel his presence. He moves defenders out of the way with a powerful drop step but also has finesse footwork which he uses with implementing a pretty up-and-under move. Damareon had 16 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 blocks vs. Duluth and added 8 points and 4 rebounds against Lambert. I see him being able to carry Monroe Area through spurts of the season with his rugged play.

2024 6-0 PG Vonte Newell – Monroe Area
Vonte Newell is a true point guard. He’s a pass-first playmaker with exceptional court vision. Good things often happen when the ball is in his hands. He plays with a mature feel and does a nice job setting the tempo. Newell had 7 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals in Game 1 followed by 2 points, 1 rebound, 5 assists and 1 steal in Game 2.

2022 6-2 G Dre Ross – Monroe Area
Wherever the ball was, Dre Ross was. He is a bundle of energy that makes plays all over the court. Ross is more of a slasher on offense, able to get defenders on their heels when attacking. Dre stuffs the stat sheet with his athleticism. He had 4 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 1 block vs. Duluth and had 6 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks vs. Lambert.

2022 6-4 W Andrew Daniels – Duluth
Lefty Andrew Daniels was a bright spot for Duluth. He has good length on the perimeter. Daniels mixed perimeter offense with getting to the basket. He was a threat from all three levels, using a one-dribble pull-up when in between. He helped make a positive impact on defense when contesting shots. He had 10 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal and 2 blocks.

Niko Wilson2023 5-10 PG Niko Wilson – Lambert
In an up-tempo setting, Niko Wilson helped set the tone for Lambert, a team that likes to press and trap for the full 32. Wilson provided great energy on both sides of the ball. Monroe Area wasn’t able to stop Niko’s penetration, getting into the teeth of the defense and making smart decisions. He was able to get all the way to the rim a few times, but really did damage when kicking out to open shooters. Wilson ended with 19 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.

2024 6-1 G Jaxson Bell – Lambert
There’s reason to be excited about Jaxson Bell’s future. You couldn’t tell he was just a sophomore by the way he played on Tuesday. There was a quiet confidence to his game and no fear. He had hard takes to the rim and mixed it up defensively. Bell recorded 17 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 block in a 61-42 win over Monroe Area. He sank a pair of threes, scored on a putback, converted a left-handed And-1 and hit both of his free throws.