Lamb’s Performance Helps Lift Calipari to First Title

NEW ORLEANS — This was just before “One Shining Moment” played in the Mercedes-Benz SuperDome and Doron Lamb was standing up on a platform on the basketball court yelling over and over, “We’re going to the White House, we’re going to the White House.”

Like all his Kentucky teammates, the Queens, N.Y., native was wearing a baseball hat that read “No-1 Greater,” a T-shirt that said  “National Champs” and a huge smile that summed it all up.

“It means a lot to me,” Lamb said after scoring a game-high 22 points, including back-to-back 3-point daggers in the second half, of Kentucky’s 67-59 victory on the biggest stage of them all.

“I worked hard to get here. Coach Cal told me I was going to have a big game today. Had a great shoot-around. I made a lot of shots today to help my team win.”

Lamb’s performance, along with those of Anthony Davis (16 rebounds, 6 points, 6 blocks, 5 assists), Marcus Teague (14 points) and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (11 points) helped Kentucky coach John Calipari win his long-awaited first title after two previous Final Fours were vacated.

“Means a lot for Coach Cal,” Lamb said. “His third year at Kentucky, he finally won. I’m so happy to win it for him.”

“I can get on with it and I don’t have to hear the drama,” Calipari said of winning his first title. “I can just coach now. I don’t have to worry. If you want to hear the truth, it’s almost like, done, let me move on.”

Lamb, who finished up at Oak Hill Academy after leaving Bishop Loughlin, was named to the All-Tournament team along with teammates Kidd-Gilchrist and Davis, the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament and the presumptive No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.

Thomas Robinson and Tyshawn Taylor of Kansas also made the All-Tournament, meaning three of the five players on the team are from New York and New Jersey (Lamb, Kidd-Gilchrist and Taylor).

“New York City kid, big stage and bright lights,” Kentucky assistant Orlando Antigua said of Lamb. “And really happy for him, really happy for him. He worked and he earned himself to put himself in that position to win the game and play the way he played.”

Said Calipari: “At the shoot-around when I watched him I said he’d get 30 tonight so I’m a little disappointed he only had 22, I exaggerated, I said 25.

“But he is as good a guard when his motor is moving as any guard in the country. He can play multiple positions. He can shoot it. He can make free throws. He’s good with the ball. He’s crafty.

“His shoot-around today, I knew he’d have a big game. I knew it.”

Lamb is the eighth Oak Hill alum — including Carmelo Anthony — to win an NCAA championship, but he considers himself a New York City kid, first and foremost.

“I think New York City basketball is one of the best in the country,” Lamb said the day before the national final.

“I think if I win the national championship, it will mean a lot to me in New York City.”

Ironically, Lamb originally chose Kentucky over Kansas, West Virginia and Arizona.

When he visited Kansas, his host was Taylor, who led St. Anthony to a mythical national title in 2008 and came out on the losing end Monday night despite scoring a team-best 19 points.

“I’ve known Tyshawn for a long time,” Lamb said. “I know he’s a great player.”

Ultimately, like many of the other Kentucky players, Lamb chose Kentucky in part because he felt Calipari could best prepare him for a possible pro career.

He considered coming out last year and will now decide whether to return to a Kentucky team that will likely lose many of its top players to the NBA.

Lamb is ranked No. 38 on Draft Express’s list of Top 100 prospects.

Still, even if he moves on, Lamb hopes Calipari and Kentucky continue to recruit New York and that other Big Apple players follow his path to the Bluegrass.

“I’m just hoping somebody will come out of New York City and come to Kentucky,” Lamb said.

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OAK HILL PLAYERS WHO’VE WON AN NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP

Ron Mercer — Kentucky (1996)

Steve Blake — Maryland (2002)

Carmelo Anthony — Syracuse (2003)

Billy Edelin — Syracuse (2003)

Ty Lawson — North Carolina (2009)

Nolan Smith — Duke (2010)

Roscoe Smith — UConn (2011)

Doron Lamb — Kentucky (2012)