Lincoln Prep seeks buy-in to return to state

GRAMBLING — Lincoln Prep may return multiple starters off last season’s run to Marsh Madness and the state tournament, but head coach Antonio Hudson expects the early weeks of the 2024-25 season to be a work in progress.

The Panthers bring back starting guards Trey Spann, Amarjae Young, and Zion Hicks, along with forward Devin Burton, but playing up to the high standard the program has cultivated over the decade may take longer than one might think given overall experience.

It goes back to defense, like most teams under Hudson do, and more specifically the mentality it takes to succeed in the full-court press, non-stop pressure style Prep likes to win with. It’s not for everyone, and only few truly embrace it to the point of all-district and all-state acclaim.

After letting seniors and upperclassmen dictate most of the activity in previous seasons, returners will step into new roles this season. The Panthers can’t wait too long to get the intensity that’s required.

“With everything we have returning, you’d think we’d be further along than we are. It’s one of those situations where we’re still finding our identity,” Hudson said. “The same people have been here, but Stephen Burks was really the last one of that era where we were hard-nosed, man-to-man all the time. These new guys have to learn to play that way. They haven’t played games to see it enough.

“I do think if we figure everything out, we have a chance to be really good.”

The Panthers will have to make up for Burks in more than just defense, as the All-State guard and the District 2-1 MVP averaged 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. Burks ended the season with 10 straight double-doubles as well. Now, Hudson expects the offense to turn to Spann, Burton, and others to turn up their production.

“Trey knows we’re going to need him to score and defend. We’ll have to depend on Devin more too,” Hudson said. “We’ll need him to make outside shots and defend. We gotta find a guy or group of guys that want to lead. It doesn’t matter their age or position. We’ll have someone new at point guard, which we’re still trying to find. We gotta have somebody that can handle the responsibility of being a floor general and run the system.”

Spann averaged 13 points and 5 rebounds last season and shot over 40% from three-point range as well. Burton averaged 9 points and 7 rebounds.

“We’ve expressed to Trey that we need him to become more of a basketball player, not just a shooter,” Hudson said. “That may end up being him handling the ball or playing in the high post or somewhere else from just going to the corner.”

Amaraje Young averaged 11 points and 4 steals last season as well, as he and Spann earned first team all-district honors.

The Panthers will be tested right out of the gate with a matchup against the Richwood Rams, a program that made the Division III Non-select semifinals last season after going to the quarterfinals in 2022-23.

Prep takes on Richwood in the Hall of Fame Classic, hosted by Wossman High School, on Saturday at 3:20 p.m.

“We come ready to play anyone. We don’t run from an opponent on the schedule. We accept the challenge of playing them,” Hudson said. “We’ll learn that there’s always something to improve on, win or lose.”

Lincoln Prep went 19-9 overall last season, winning the District 2-1A title along the way, and made its third straight trip to the state tournament.