Recruiting report: Damari Monsanto (2019)
If Western High (2-1) is to go far in the Class 9A playoffs in 2018-19, it will need major production from senior forward Damari Monsanto.
Western had an impressive one-two punch with Monsanto and Colorado transfer Tristan Pratt. Pratt played with the Wildcats during the summer and fall leagues, but decided to move back to Colorado to live with his mother.
Monday night, Monsanto showed he still can bring a lot of firepower. The 6-foot-6 D-1 prospect lit up Fort Lauderdale Stranahan for 38 points in an 84-76 non-district road victory.
Monsanto, who PrepHoops.com ranks the No. 18 senior in the state of Florida, scored 29 of the 38 after Stranahan had held a 29-27 halftime advantage. He finished the night with four 3-pointers.
“I played against this team a lot,” Monsanto said, referring to last year when he was in Stranahan’s district with American Heritage-Plantation. “They’ve been beating us and I had to get me one back. So our team came out here and we executed.”
Asked what the game plan Monday, Monsanto said, “Getting the defensive rebounds, pushing the floor, making the extra pass, getting the 50-50 balls.”
Monsanto had a big summer playing with Team Breakdown on the Under Armour Association travel circuit. Recruiting-wise, he said Tulane was the most recent school to come down and give a look.
“Tulane came down recently,” Monsanto said. “I like UConn, Tulane, Buffalo. I’ve got Western Kentucky.”
Monsanto said as of right now he did not have any visits set in stone.
Senior Lavar Miller Jr. and sophomore Gavin Ostrow both hit double figures for Western vs. Stranahan. Miller finished with 18 points — all after halftime — and Ostrow had 21.
Monsanto scored 21 points earlier in the year in a 51-41 loss to Miami Norland in the Hoophall Miami Invitational at AmericanAirlines Arena. That is the Wildcats’ only loss.
If you have high school basketball news, you can reach Pat Lammer via e-mail at PatALammer@Gmail.com or via text at 954-661-9671.