Keep the wins coming
Lincoln Prep guard Stephen Burks (3) drives the lane against Northwood-Lena in the state championship game in Lake Charles last spring. Burks will be counted on as a leader for the Panthers this season. Photo by Josh McDaniel
The top- end talent may be gone, but the Lincoln Prep Panthers believe in their returning core for the 2023-24 basketball season.
No longer can the District 2-1A champions lean on District MVP Bralyn Mayfield, or dependable starters Brandon Heard and Kobe Mack. They’re gone.
This season, it’s up to back- end returners stepping up and newcomers embracing their roles to carry the Panthers to another deep postseason run after finishing 24-5 and losing to Northwood-Lena in the Division IV Select state championship game last season. For the 2023-24 squad, it’s up to them to finish the job.
“They’ve been working their tails off and getting better, and you’re starting to see growth but a lot of our core we depend on a lot of plays football and so we’re still getting them back in the gym and in basketball shape,” Lincoln Prep head coach Antonio Hudson said. “But if we can get it all put together and get on the same page, I think we can be pretty good. We have a plethora of guards that can do multiple things especially on defensive end and can score for us as well.”
Mayfield, Mack, and Heard each contributed heavily last season with fierce defensive effort and ability to hunt a shot – with each averaging over 10 points per game, led by Mayfield at 19.1 points per game, 11.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists.
There is no one-forone replacing that, and Hudson knows it. The key is to get his team to know it and embrace the rising tide lifts all boats approach.
“If I have to depend on one guy getting us 25-27 a night, we’ll struggle,” Hudson said. “But if we get four or five between 12-14 a night, we can really be good.”
It starts with returning starter Stephen Burks, named a Second Team All-District selection last season, along with returners Amarje Young and Trey Spann. They’re the head dogs this season, and Hudson wants them to embrace the role of leadership, but not at the expense of straining beyond their limits.
“They key to me if Stephen and Trey and that group of guys can buy into the team concept,” Hudson said. “A lot of times when players graduate that were above you, you feel like you have to replace what they do. That’s going to be hard to do with what Bralyn did for us, Brandon did for us and what Kobe did for us and those are different kinds of ballplayers. They just have to be great at what they can do.
“Last year teams were so focused on Bralyn and not Trey and Stephen and now when a team walks in and they scout us they’re going to be on them and try to stop them,”he added.
Hudson said the Panthers have eight guards that can contribute in some way or another this season but said the team’s consistency could come down to the size around the basket. With Mayfield and Mack gone, Hudson said returners Zion Hicks, Devin Burton, and Dbraylon Cooper — none of whom started last year — will have to step into the spotlight this season to shore up a potential size deficiency.
A change Hudson has been receptive toward is the Panthers’ new home gym facilities, giving Prep a secure and modern practice space. The Panthers will open their season with a pair of road games before ushering in their first home game on Dec. 5 against Bastrop.
“We have a lot more space with the six goals in the gym and we can do more player development stuff and skill work with it,” Hudson said “We can get more reps and do free throws and some stuff like that. It’s a lot of space and it helps us a lot and get everyone working.”
Lincoln Prep starts the 2023- 24 season tonight at the Rod Jenkins Memorial Shootout against Richwood. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
