Lincoln Park is known more for its small, intense second-floor gym than its basketball success.
There are a handful of rows of bleachers along each side and walls a couple of yards behind each basket. Fans in the first row have their feet on the court. It’s a wonderful home-court advantage for teams that embrace it.
“It’s our home and we are very comfortable here,” senior Keyshawn Barfield said. “For us, playing here feels like sitting in your Lazy Boy and kicking up your feet.”
The cramped confines will be even less hospitable for opponents this season. The Lions may be the best team in the Public League.
“We are more known for academics,” senior Chayse Turner said. “But we are ready to show the city that we are a basketball school too.”
Lincoln Park, ranked No. 11 in preseason Super 25, returns nearly every significant player from last season. Barefield is 6-9 and Turner, a 6-4 guard, are seniors. Junior guards Ahmad Lee, Larry Harris and Jaylen Dickerson immediately impacted varsity last year.
Lindblom transfer Kaydin Williams, 6-4 Jalill Amous and freshman Alvin Robinson are key new additions.
“[Williams] can shoot it, handle it, rebound,” Lions coach Josh Anderson said. “He can be our best defender when he wants to be. He will make a huge impact on the city this year.”
Robinson is already a highly-regarded prospect.
“His ceiling is so high,” Anderson said. “He can pretty much do everything for a 14-year-old freshman. We think he will be 6-7 or 6-8.”
Turner was one of last season’s major surprises. He’s a high-flying athlete that can score. He may be the most under-recruited player in the Public League.
Lee has turned the heads of college coaches already. He recently took a visit to SIU.
Last year was the first as a head coach for Anderson, a Simeon alum and the son of NBA star Nick Anderson.
“I had to learn [Anderson] last year,” Lee said. “I didn’t know how to work with him and what he wanted. Now I’m a lot more comfortable.”
The Lions were 21-10 last season. They beat Young and Lindblom and lost to Warren in the Proviso West Holiday Tournament championship game.
Lincoln Park has never played in a city championship game or achieved any notable state playoff success. But the Lions have been close in various seasons under past coaches Cyrus McGinnis, Tom Livatino and Pat Gordon.
“This is a great opportunity for us,” Anderson said. “We have everyone returning, leadership and experience. The guys know me now and my system. This is the year for us. This is the year to get Lincoln Park out of that second tier.”
Anderson is impressed with the work his players put in physically over the offseason but believes their mental growth is the key to taking things to another level.
“They have matured,” Anderson said. “More off the court than on the court. Just being able to communicate and speak up for themselves. They are doing better in the classroom and have become better teammates. It’s been impressive to watch them grow into young men.
“That off-the-court stuff leads to success on the court. The environment at Lincoln Park shapes you into being more outgoing, which is a good thing.”