DCC’s Charles Lampten Named NJCAA All-American and Signs with Division I College of Charleston
6’11 Center Charles Lampten was named an NJCAA All-American this week. He is only the fourth Buccaneer to ever earn that honor in the program’s 63 year history. Lampten has signed a National Letter of Intent with NCAA Division I College of Charleston in South Carolina where he will still have three years of eligibility. The Cougars play in the Colonial Athletic Conference and rank 7th all-time (.685) among the winningest programs in the country with the likes of Kentucky (.762), North Carolina (.735), Kansas (.727), Duke (.710), UCLA (.688) and UNLV (.687).
Dawson Coach Joe Peterson shared his perspective, “Charles is a special young man that will be dearly missed by our community and everyone at the college. Personally I know that my family and I are really sad to see him go. He is a joy to be around. It’s been fun to see him grow and develop as a player, but also as a student and a man. He has really benefited from his time here, but all of us have been blessed by him as well. Charles is a winner! Our program has gone 50-10 in his two seasons, including 40-2 against conference opponents. I’m not sure anyone in Dawson history has won 6 separate championships in 2 years like he has. Out of high school, hardly anyone wanted him, and just two years later there were a ton of schools recruiting him. I know it was a tough decision for him, but I was impressed how he handled all of it and know that he will continue to grow and develop by leaps and bounds because he has the right character and the right work ethic.”
As a sophomore, Lampten was named 1st team All-Conference, All-Region and NJCAA All-American. He averaged 10.1 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.9 blocked shots per game while helping Dawson win the Mon-Dak Conference Championship, Region XIII Tournament Championship, North Central District Championship and qualified for the NJCAA Division I National Tournament for the first time in program history. Lampten finished the season ranking in the top 10 in the nation in blocks per game and top 25 in the nation for offensive rebounds per game. His season high was 19 points and 18 rebounds in a win over Miles Community College on March 7th.
Commenting on his signing, Lampten said, “My time at Dawson has been gratifying to say the least. I have made countless memories with my friends, DCC staff and the community. So grateful that my college path started here because there really is no place like the Glendive atmosphere. Glendive is truly a place I can call home for many years to come. I’m excited about my new journey at C of C. I think it is a great place for me. I’m also really excited about the coaching staff. I believe they got something special going there and I have a great opportunity ahead of me.”
Lampten will be playing for new Cougars Head Coach, Pat Kelsey. Kelsey has spent the last nine years at Winthrop, where he led them to an average of 20.7 wins a season. This past season they received votes in the Top 25 and ranked as high as #2 in the collegeinsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll. They led the conference in scoring offense and ranked 31st in the country in scoring offense. Kelsey compiled a 186-95 record (.662) in his 9 seasons there and a remarkable 110-46 record (.705) in conference play while winning four Big South regular season titles. Kelsey commented on his latest signing, “I am excited about the endless potential, athleticism, and character that Charles brings to our program.”
Lampten grew up in Cameroon, but moved to Roanoke, Texas when he was 15 and attended Byron Nelson High School.
