Sarasota basketball star is finally where he needs to be

On his first day walking through the doors at Sarasota High School, Emmanuel Lambright told boys basketball coach Kevin Fields that he was going to change the culture, and turn the Sailors, who won just six games last season, into winners.

Fields believed him.

The 6-foot-6 senior played at Cardinal Mooney last year, and Sarasota Christian the two years prior. Lambright has moved around a bunch, trying to find the situation meant for him, where he can provide the most help both on and off the court. Fields also coached Lambright during his 10th grade year with the Blazers. He is well aware of how Lambright is the total package.

Lambright is listed on scouting services as a shooting guard, but Fields said he can play all five positions on the court in different circumstances. His versatility makes him a unique asset, and it helps that Lambright has the skills to go with it. Last season, Lambright averaged 18 points and nine rebounds per game. He is in talks with several NCAA Division 1 schools, including Georgia Tech, the University of Louisville and Virginia Tech.  

It is Lambright’s leadership, however, that truly makes him stand out from the crowd.

After practice on the day before a road game against Venice, Lambright quieted the team down and made sure everyone had a ride to the game, pairing passengers with drivers.

Earlier this season, after Lambright had dunked on an opponent, the opponent ripped Lambright’s legs down and sent him crashing to the court, hitting the back of his head. Instead of getting up filled with aggression and doing something regretful, Lambright immediately ran toward his team’s bench and held them back, preventing them from getting a technical foul. Even in immense pain, he thinks of the impact on the team first, not himself. Lambright said there was never animosity about his role from other upperclassmen on the team who had been there longer.

“I love to lead,” Lambright said. “I love to make sure that our team is all on the same page, all fighting for that one goal. Our motto this year is ‘We over I.’ We’re all fighting for each other.

“It’s a testament to how willing and how ready the guys on our team are to win. None of them hold any type of pride where they’re saying, ‘Oh, this is my team, I’ve been here for four years.’ They say ‘I’m going to buy in, I’m going to be behind him, we’re going to go for this goal and ride with him.’ I have nothing but respect for those guys, even just knowing them for a few months. It’s been so much fun hanging out with them and fighting for them on the court.”

Lambright’s favorite basketball memory is playing with his AAU team, Impact ELITE, against Nike South Beach and the duo of Zach Brown and JJ Smith, two blue-chip recruits in the class of 2017. Lambright and teammate Sean Price each scored 20 points in a single half. Impact ELITE ended up losing by three, but the experience of going against top competition and finding personal success was rewarding for Lambright.

While basketball is fun for Lambright, it is not the most important thing in his life. That, he said, is his faith. He struggled to put into words what it means to him.

“Nothing even flows in my life if not for God,” Lambright said.

For fun, Lambright said he writes down philosophical thoughts about people and things, and listens to theological speakers like Ravi Zacharias give theirs.

While still early in the season, as of Dec. 6, the Sailors were 2-0, winning their games by an average of 22 points. Lambright has averaged 28 points and eight rebounds in those two games. That promise he made to Fields on his first day as a Sailor isn’t looking so crazy.

The coach knows how lucky he is to have a player like Lambright on his team again.

“I have a son,” Fields said. “I wish my son grows up to be like him (Lambright), even 10% of what Emmanuel has to offer, and carries that the rest of his life. He’s a phenomenal kid.”