SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – It’s a small world, after all. At least that’s the case for star New York City-bred prepsters Doron Lamb and Lamont (Momo) Jones. Friends since elementary school, the backcourt duo has come together once again at Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va.
Lamb, a highly touted junior who spent his first two years of high school at Bishop Loughlin in Brooklyn, sought a refuge where he could focus on schoolwork and basketball, while Jones was left out to dry after his old school, American Christian Academy in Pennsylvania, closed down after the last school year.
The former Bishop Loughlin standout made the connection with Oak Hill through a personal connection.
“My dad’s friend went to Oak Hill and he talked to Coach (Steve) Smith about me and (Smith) came to see me over the summer while I was playing AAU ball,” said Lamb after a 17-point effort that propelled his team to a comeback victory over South Atlanta HS at the HoopHall Classic on Saturday.
While on a full scholarship to the school, which has turned out the likes of Carmelo Anthony, Jerry Stackhouse, and countless other NBA players, the adjustments from city life have been dramatic.
“When I woke up in the morning, I would take the train to school and walk through the city,” said Lamb, whose family lives in Laurelton, Queens. “But here (at Oak Hill) it’s just walking to class and we’re in the woods.”
The 6-foot-3 guard, however, believes the adjustments have been worth it.
“Here I can really focus on my school work,” said Lamb, who says he boasts a 90 average at the prep school, significantly better than how he did in the classroom while at Loughlin.
With several high-major Division I programs already courting the talented scorer, Lamb believes Smith has motivated him to improve on some of his intangible skills the most.
“If you don’t play hard, he’s going to put you on the bench, it doesn’t matter if you’re an All-American – he’ll sit you,” Lamb said.
While Lamb’s transfer to the Virginia prep school transpired during the summer months, former Rice and Jones went down to the wire with his decision on where he would finish his high-school career. After American Christian folded during the summer, Jones began looking at going to St. Anthony’s (N.J.) or making a return to Rice.
It was a visit to iS8 in the early days of the fall and a conversation with a childhood friend that ultimately was the catalyst for Jones’ move to Oak Hill Academy.
That friend? Doron Lamb.
“I ran into Doron at iS8 and he told me that a scholarship had opened up at Oak Hill,” Jones said after scoring seven points and dishing out six assists in the Oak Hill win Saturday night.
The evening after the run-in at iS8, Smith called Jones and the next morning Jones was on a flight to Virginia.
“It was kind of a rushed situation,” Jones said. … “But it was probably the best decision that I’ve made in my entire life.”
While Oak Hill landed an impact player in the muscular, 6-foot Jones, many people back in New York were left scratching their head after assuming that Momo would wind up back where he began his high school life.
“I never gave anybody my word that I would go anywhere,” Jones said. “Everybody assumed that I would go back to Rice, because that’s where I started. I said it was a possibility, but it was never a promise that I would end up there.”
With his high-school decision behind him, it wouldn’t be long before Jones decided where he would play his collegiate ball. After visiting Virginia Tech in the fall, Jones chose to commit to the ACC school. It was the connection that Jones had with Hokies head coach Seth Greenberg that sealed his decision.
“He’s from New York, and that was the biggest thing for me,” Jones said. “I felt like I could relate with him really well.”
For now, Jones and Lamb continue to embark on their new journey together, as they are roommates with each other at the boarding school.
“To be at one of the top schools in the nation with one of my boys and one of my best childhood friends,” Jones said, “has been one of the greatest experiences of my life.”
