Late-season addition Damari Monsanto delivering big buckets for Saskatoon Mamba

Minutes after delivering a breakthrough 26-point performance in his second Canadian Elite Basketball League game, Damari Monsanto didn’t need many words to describe his game.

“Shooter. Can really shoot the ball,” Monsanto said.

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Saskatoon Mamba fans have already seen what the 25-year-old guard is capable of in just a handful of viewings since he signed with the CEBL club last week.

Mamba head coach Isaiah Fox chuckled when asked about the self-proclaimed strength Monsanto has brought to the team down the home stretch of the regular season.

“Yeah, no doubt,” Fox said.

“He’s got a flame. High-level shooter, and I think he actually does a really good job of making some of the right plays and right passes. He’s not necessarily categorized as a playmaker, but he knows how to play basketball.”

Monsanto was brought into the Mamba fold following the departure of star guard Tevian Jones, who has since signed with the Brampton Honey Badgers.

In his first two appearances, Monsanto provided an immediate offensive punch for Saskatoon, with 11 points in 15 minutes of action off the bench on July 21 against the Edmonton Stingers and the 26-point outing on July 23 against Brampton, which clinched a playoff spot for the Mamba.

While that kind of production after such limited time around the team may have felt sudden, Monsanto said he never questioned his own abilities.

“It’s kind of common for me,” Monsanto said. “I’m a shooter, so those things are kind of common. That’s what I came up here to do.”

New Saskatoon Mamba guard Damari Monsanto (pictured) joined the CEBL team after a stint at NBA Summer League with the Washington Wizards organization. (Brayden Elliott/Saskatoon Mamba)

The Pembroke Pines, Fla. product struggled in Saskatoon’s most recent game, a 104-97 loss to the Vancouver Bandits where he went one-for-six from the field with just three points.

But despite the step back, Monsanto sits sixth in team scoring, averaging 13.3 points per game in his three appearances, including 11 three-pointers.

Fellow guard Devonté Bandoo, who delivered the winning basket last Thursday to help the Mamba clinch its first playoff spot since 2022, when the organization was still known as the Saskatchewan Rattlers, said Monsanto has brought some much-needed scoring ahead of the team’s return to the CEBL post-season.

“You always want a guy like that on your team,” Bandoo said. “It’s been phenomenal, especially the way he’s shooting the ball. I hope he keeps doing it, and let’s get this ball rolling.”

Monsanto is fresh off competing in the NBA Summer League with the Washington Wizards organization, where he dressed in three contests and recorded five points per game in an average of 12.3 minutes per game.

He shared the court with first overall draft pick AJ Dybantsa, and Monsanto said the experience showed him the level of commitment that’s required to further his basketball development.

“Very, very big,” Monsanto said. “When you’re right there close with the front office and the (general managers), it shows you how to really be a professional.”

Monsanto split his 2025-26 season between the Capital City Go-Go, Rio Grande Valley Vipers and Delaware Blue Coats of the NBA G League.

He said the environment has been warm and welcoming in the Mamba locker room.

“This is a great group of guys,” Monsanto said. “My first day, first hour here, it was good. I met everybody. It seems like I’ve known them for a minute. A good group of guys.”

Heading into the team’s final three games of the CEBL regular season, Fox said Monsanto’s ability to shoot the ball and delegate when needed will serve the team well as they aim to lock down third place in the Western Conference.

“He’s good to have as a primary weapon, or as a guy coming off in the secondary action as a weapon,” Fox said.

Monsanto has come off the bench in all three appearances so far with the Mamba, with veteran guards like Bandoo and captain Tavian Dunn-Martin getting the starts.

That hasn’t fazed him, however, and he said he’ll embrace whatever role Fox gives him down the stretch drive.

“That’s part of the job,” Monsanto said. “Just trying to stay ready whenever your number is called. Just being the best professional you can be.”

While players being added late in the CEBL season is nothing new, there was a brief adjustment period for Monsanto, who had to pick up the intricacies of the league’s rules and gel with a brand new group of teammates.

Embracing the fans at both SaskTel Centre and Merlis Belsher Place has come quickly for a player the Mamba hope will help lead the charge towards a deep playoff run.

“When you got fans here cheering you on and giving you energy, it’s always exciting to play in front of people like that,” Monsanto said.

The Mamba (10-11) will look to prevent the Niagara River Lions from clinching a playoff spot on Wednesday night, as Saskatoon plays host. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at SaskTel Centre.