Teams

1986-87 (East St. Louis) Lincoln High School Boys’ Team

Year Inducted: 1995

Category: Teams

Schools / Organizations: (East St. Louis) Lincoln High School

Biography: 

The “Tower of Power ” led the Tigers to their second state title and became the first class “AA” team to win two titles since schools were divided into two classes in 1972.  The towering front line consisted of 6’9” junior center LaPhonso Ellis (19 ppg, 19 rebs, 7 blocks), and a pair of 6’7” bookend senior forwards, James Harris (16 ppg, 11 rebs, 5 steals, and Chris Rodgers (13 ppgs, 11 rebs).  The Tigers, who averaged 76 points per game were piloted by 6’1 point guard Rodney Chavis who set a new school record for assists by dishing out 12.2 a game, and a total of 344 for the year.  Ellis set a season scoring record (557 points), and a new rebound record (551).  James Harris set a school record for most steals (155) and slam dunks (99).

The greatest accomplishment of winning the state title in 1987 was that the Tigers never practiced a single day nor played a single game on its home court.  A flood in October 1986 devastated the school and completely ruined the gym floor, thus forcing the Tigers to practice and play across town at local junior high schools.  Despite the tragedy, the East St. Louis Lincoln Tigers captured the IHSA Class “AA” Boys’ Basketball state championship.  That year, LaPhonso Ellis, an all-stater, was nominated as a High School All-American.  James Harris headed for Temple University, and Chris Rodgers signed with Creighton University.