Lakeland's Luke Anderson learns leadership as second-year Florida Southern basketball player; Area college men's teams start 2022

It'll be the second straight year Luke Anderson dons a Florida Southern Moccasin uniform as a basketball player. Last year it was all about getting acclimated to the Division II level and culture, and this brand-new 2022 year is all about learning the art of leadership.

Anderson, a former Lakeland Dreadnaught basketball player and now a sophomore forward at Florida Southern, is choosing to learn from his teammate, senior point guard E.J. Dambreville, what it takes to lead a basketball team.

“I’m trying to help the team any way I can, but that definitely involves being a vocal leader,” Anderson said.  “(E.J Dambreville) graduates next year… I definitely want to start getting better at being vocal, so that whenever he’s gone, I can pick up where he left off.”

The entire Florida Southern basketball team is taking note on how to lead and to do activities as a group. Over the summer, it was Dambreville who led the group to voluntary weightlifting and other training in preparation for the new year. And the 6-foot-7 forward said he learned a great deal from summer training.

“All he’s taught me is that, if you hold yourself to a higher standard, normally the people around you will hold themselves to the same standard,” Anderson said. “If I see him in the gym every single day, or lift every single day, and I’m just doing anything, then it’s not doing anything for anybody. He might be getting better individually, but if nobody else is doing anything, then we’re not getting better. I feel like he’s a big lead-by-example guy.”

Four years ago as a Lakeland Dreadnaught, Anderson was also a big lead-by-example guy. Players and coaches could count on Anderson being in the gym. And that led to Anderson hitting a game-tying shot from just within half court in the first round of the playoffs his freshman year vs. Tampa Freedom, among other virtuoso performances, beating Bartow for the first time in a long time, and making all-county teams.

Anderson went on to play college ball at Iowa State. Anderson, though, admitted that his training regimen revved up since transferring to Florida Southern thanks to players he has learned leadership from.

“Since I’ve been at Florida Southern, I feel like I haven’t had to worry about getting through bad days,” Anderson said. “You don’t always want to work out every day. They’ll be mornings where you wake up feeling so sore and feeling sorry for yourself. But I feel like it’s just being able to get over that hump.”

Anderson meshes with Florida Southern; Mocs off to hot start

In the Lakeland days, Anderson did everything as a player. In his second year as a Moccasin, he focuses on rebounding and hitting an occasional shot. The team on offense is positionless, high-tempo with limited play selection. Guys just go out and play team basketball.

Along with Anderson being the energetic, defensive guy with an occasional basket in 15 to 30 minutes of action a night, the team comprises a diversified skill set.

Sophomore shooting guard Jaden Booth (26.5 points) can flat-out shoot (43% on 3s). Dambreville (19 points, 9.5 rebounds) can shoot (46% on 3s) and drive hard to the lane. New transfer sophomore guard Tray Alexander is quick and can play exceptional defense.

And then there are energy guys like freshman guard Donovan Smith and sophomore forward Wes Bongiorni both of whom do whatever it takes to win.

“I feel like the best thing about our team though is we have guys that fit different roles at different times,” Anderson said. “I feel like we’re not selfish to the point that, ‘Oh, if we only get one minute, it’s not the end of the world.' It might just be you weren’t needed for that amount of time.”

But Dambreville felt the team needed Anderson in the first matchup of the year in the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic vs. Flagler College over the weekend. Just before the game, Dambreville came up to Anderson and said, “We need you tonight.” Anderson said that made him feel needed, and he would go on to score eight points, bring down 11 boards and dish out seven assists.

Anderson went on to play 15 minutes in the last matchup — a 92-90 win over No. 5 West Texas A&M in the Small College Hall of Fame Classic at Florida Southern. Anderson scored two points, brought down five rebounds and had a block.

Still, to Anderson, the unvarnished truth is he doesn’t care about his minutes, but that he is proud that his team went 2-0 in the classic; Florida Southern also won the first game in the classic over Flagler College 96-80 and will next play Clayton State University (0-1) at 7 p.m. Tuesday on the road.

But no matter what the score is and how many minutes Anderson gets, those in attendance can find him on the bench clapping it up, encouraging the team.

“(I’m) just trying to keep everybody motivated, starting the (defensive) chants, because then everybody is engaged. If you’re on the bench sulking, then you’re not going to be ready to play. But if you’re cheering … you’ll be ready whenever your number is called.”

Warner off to hot start

Warner University is off to its best start (4-0) since 2019.

Most recently Warner blew out Johnson University thanks to sophomore guard Logan West’s 23 points, as well as the team holding its opposition to 36% shooting.

West is averaging 18 points on 61% shooting and 5.5 rebounds this year. Helping West on the scoring end is sophomore guard Blaize Darling Jr., who is averaging 14 points and six rebounds.

Defensively, Warner has given up just 53 points a game to date.

Next up for Warner (4-0) is Webber International University (1-0) at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Turner Athletic Center.

Webber International blows out Toccoa Falls College

For the first time in six years, Webber won its first game of the season thanks to a 94-63 blowout over Toccoa Falls College on Oct. 28.

Sophomore guard Orri Hilmarsson led the way with 18 points and hit six 3s. Junior guard K’Shun Stokes put up 17 points and seven rebounds. And senior forward Gabriel Divic chipped in with 15 points on five 3s.

Southeastern off to good start

The Fire are 2-1 after its first three games.

On Nov. 5, Southeastern blew out Florida National University 80-64 thanks to senior All-American Riley Minix’s 26 points and 14 rebounds.

Minix on the year averages 22.7 points and 11 rebounds. Senior guard Reggie Mesidor is up to 10.7 points.

The Fire (2-1) will next play Ave Maria University (2-1) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday on the road.

Polk State wins first game of year

Polk State won its first game of the year on Tuesday at home: a 71-65 victory over State College of Florida Manatee. Sophomore guard George Pridgett scored a career-high 32 points in that contest.

For the year, sophomore guard Jaelin Simpson averages 13.5 points. And Pridgett averages 13.

The Eagles (1-2) will next play Miami Dade (1-3) Tuesday on the road.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lakeland's Luke Anderson ready to learn leadership at Florida Southern