Tigers' Cammire man of many roles

Monday, March 10, 2008

Junior guard flies under the radar on talented roster    

BY SCOTT DECAMP  sdecamp@kalamazoogazette.com

 

LAWRENCE -- Having played varsity basketball for Mike Salvano for three years, Lawrence junior Lee Cammire feels a close bond with the veteran coach.

One of the ways the two connect is their love of the animated television show, ``Family Guy.'' ``That's a great thing we have,'' Cammire said, cracking a big smile that revealed his shiny braces. ``He's Quagmire. I'm all of (the characters).'' Cammire plays several roles on the basketball floor for Salvano, too. The 6-foot, 180-pound guard brings experience, scoring and the ability to get in the lane and create for himself or teammates.

At times, he is overshadowed by guard Adrian Ledesma and post players Spencer and Shayne Whittington. But Cammire could be a key for the fourth-ranked Tigers (22-1) as they take on Lansing Christian (19-4) in a Class D state quarterfinal game Tuesday at Holt High School.

``He's a very capable scorer, but he doesn't have to be,'' said Tekonsha coach Tim Jenkins, referring to the Tigers' many offensive options. Tekonsha lost to Lawrence, 79-57, in the regional semifinals last week. ``I think he's deceptively quick. He doesn't look as quick as he is.''

Cammire, who was a part-time starter as a freshman before becoming a fixture in the lineup as a sophomore, is averaging 11.8 points, 3.5 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game this season. He's shooting 47.8 percent from the field, 31.5 percent from 3-point land and has played more minutes than any other Lawrence player.

``He's a blue-collar kind of guy, and he's very quiet,'' Salvano said of Cammire, who shares captain duties with seniors Ledesma and Spencer Whittington. ``He's probably got as good a shot as any guy on the team.

``This year, he's really grown up so much and matured. He was the typical freshman and sophomore. He's got such a great sense of humor, and he's just a nice kid -- he really is.''

Point guard Ledesma, an all-state candidate who has started for four years, does plenty well on the court for the Tigers. But there's one skill Cammire possesses that leaves Ledesma in a bit of awe. ``The floater -- he has an awesome floater,'' Ledesma said. ``If I was a big man, I'd hate it.'' ``Going to the hoop is something you have or you don't have. It's not something you can really learn,'' said Cammire, who grew to nearly his current height by fifth grade.

Part of Cammire's skill is natural, likely inherited from his father, Charles, who played football at Southern Illinois University. Lee Cammire, who has a pair of athletic younger brothers, also plays football and baseball. If Cammire feels his game is not measuring up, he is afforded plenty of opportunities to fine-tune things on his own. His family has an indoor basketball floor, which is half-court and has a ball-return shooting machine. ``Some of the guys come over, so that's nice,'' Cammire said.

Ledesma said: ``He's always there shooting, trying to get better.''

More importantly, he keeps team success in mind. Cammire said that during the Tigers' 54-48 regional finals victory over state power Wyoming Tri-unity Christian, he stressed to the teammates to ``keep their heads.'' That's the type of leadership any coach loves to see. It might even prompt a response from Salvano in his best Quagmire voice.

``Awww, right.''