The Observer’s Lincoln County boys’ high school basketball preview

Jay Edwards
·4 min read

Here is The Observer’s boys’ high school basketball preview for Lincoln County:

Teams to watch

East Lincoln: The Mustangs have been a consistent winner, averaging 22 wins during the past five seasons. For 2023-24, East Lincoln returns two starters, including junior wing Jackson Fannon (15 ppg) and senior point guard Houston Hartsell (8.5 ppg). East Lincoln has shooters all over the court, and is a fundamentally sound team that won’t beat itself, but it also lacks the size to control a game on the boards which will be a challenge.

Lincoln Charter: The Eagles have averaged 23 wins per season during the past five years. The defending Catawba Shores 1A/2A conference champions will look to 6-foot-1 senior Kelan Flowers to lead Lincoln Charter to another conference title and a deep playoff run.

North Lincoln: The Knights return four starters from a team that went 18-9 and advanced to the second round of the 3A state playoffs last year. North Lincoln will look to junior guards Kellen Karr (14.4 ppg) and Ty Sanders (12.1 ppg) to lead a veteran team that also features senior forwards Ben Cipriano and Tanner Lineberger.

Players to watch

Gideon Allen, West Lincoln: The 6-3 junior is West Lincoln’s leading returning scorer (8 ppg) and rebounder (6 rpg).

Jackson Fannon, East Lincoln: The 6-7 junior averaged 15 points per game, shooting 45 percent from the three-point line and 80 percent from the free throw line last season.

Kelon Flowers, Lincoln Charter: The 6-1 senior averaged 18.1 points, four rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.7 steals per game as a junior.

Kellen Karr, North Lincoln: The 6-3 junior shooting guard is one of the most versatile players in the county, averaging 14.4 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and 1.5 blocks per game as a sophomore.

Andrew Phelps, Lincolnton: The 6-2 senior forward is the leading returning scorer (7.7 ppg) for the Wolves this season.

Ty Sanders, North Lincoln: The 6-3 junior guard (12.1 ppg, 4 apg) pairs with Karr to give the Knights a dynamic backcourt.

Players on the rise

Houston Hartsell, East Lincoln: The 5-11 senior point guard (8.5 ppg) shot 42 percent from the three-point line last season.

Khamoni Heath, Lincolnton: The 6-2 senior will be a big boast to the Wolves’ lineup after missing last season because of injury, according to coach Jalen Littlejohn.

Ben Cipriano, North Lincoln: The 6-5 senior forward (5.8 ppg, 5 rpg) will have to play a bigger role for North Lincoln to be a Western Foothills’ Athletic conference contender.

Preseason All-Lincoln County team

  • Gideon Allen, West Lincoln, 6-3, Jr.

  • Jackson Fannon, East Lincoln, 6-7, Jr.

  • Kelon Flowers, Lincoln Charter, 6-1, Sr.

  • Kellen Karr, North Lincoln, 6-3, Sr.

  • Andrew Phelps, Lincolnton, 6-2, Sr.

  • Ty Sanders, North Lincoln, 6-3, Jr.

Preseason player of the year: Jackson Fannon, East Lincoln, 6-7, Jr.

Notes

  • East Lincoln coach Jonathan Hancock has 456 career victories overall, and is 132-31 at East Lincoln in his five-year tenure.

  • Lincolnton’s 6-4 freshman guard Junior “L.J.” Smith is one of the top players in the state in the class of 2027, and should have an immediate impact in the Wolves’ lineup.

  • North Lincoln basketball coach Dennis Frye is also the school’s athletic director. His son, Sawyer Frye, is the Knights’ junior varsity basketball coach.

  • West Lincoln basketball coach David Handsel returns to his former job this season. He was the last coach to take the Rebels to the playoffs in the 2017-18 season. Handsel was the head coach at East Gaston for the last five years.

Conference predictions

Catawba Shores 1A/2A Conference

  1. Pine Lake Prep; 2. Lincoln Charter; 3. Christ the King; 4. Corvian Charter; 5. Community School of Davidson; 6. Bradford Prep; 7. Mountain Island Charter; 8. Langtree Charter.

Catawba Valley Athletic 2A Conference

  1. West Caldwell; 2. Lincolnton; 3. Maiden; 4. Newton Conover; 5. Bunker Hill; 6. Bandys; 7. East Burke; 8. West Lincoln.

Western Foothills Athletic 3A Conference

  1. Hickory; 2. North Lincoln; 3. East Lincoln; 4. North Iredell; 5. St. Stephen’s; 6. Statesville; 7. Fred T. Foard; 8. West Iredell.