Top Players

• 6-6 SR Tre Johnson (TEXAS) ... ESPN-4
• 6-2 SR Labaron Philon (KANSAS) ... ESPN-32
• 6-7 SR Jalen Shelley (ARKANSAS) ... ESPN-36
• 6-10 SR James Brown (NORTH CAROLINA) ... ESPN-63
• 6-4 JR Jasper Johnson ... ESPN-10
• 6-3 SR T.O. Barrett (MISSOURI)

Lions At A Glance

MAXPREPS “ACADEMY TOP 10” PRESEASON RANKING: 2
BALLISLIFE “FAB 50” RANKING: 2

Located in the heart of the Ozark Mountains, the nine-month boarding school that provides a fully accredited, biblically based education has skyrocketed into the early “Team of the 2020s” conversation, finishing second at the GEICO Nationals in its inaugural season and taking home the championship in 2023. That’s a tough act to follow for coach Bill Armstrong’s completely made-over roster, but there’s no shortage of firepower, not with big-time transfers like MaxPreps National Junior of the Year 6-6 SR Tre Johnson (21.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.7 apg at Texas 6A state champion Dallas Lake Highlands) and 6-10 SR James Brown (10.8 ppg, 8.9 rpg at Chicago St. Rita) – committed to Texas and North Carolina, respectively, and two of the Lions’ five D-I signees – in the building. Two other MaxPreps All-Americans, Kansas-bound 6-2 SR Labaron Philon (35.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.9 apg, 2.9 steals at Alabama 7A quarterfinalist Mobile Baker) and 6-4 JR Jasper Johnson (20.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg at Kentucky Sweet 16 semifinalist Woodford County), join fellow transfers Missouri recruit 6-3 SR T.O. Barrett (15.5 ppg, 4.1 apg at Oklahoma 6A state champion Edmond North), Arkansas pledge 6-7 SR Jalen Shelley (18.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.5 apg at Prestonwood Christian TX), rugged rebounder 6-8 SR Brandon Benjamin (13.4 ppg, 11.3 rpg at Bergen Catholic NJ), 6-4 JR T.J. Stuttley (16.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg at Onalaska WI) and 6-10 SR Kany Tchanda (Winston-Salem Christian), as Link Academy makes its second City of Palms Classic appearance (first in the main bracket). … Link dismantled AZ Compass Prep 73-55 on April 1 to win the coveted GEICO postseason crown.