Sports
Lion Pride: 5 Unforgettable Athletes From Lanphier High School
From local fields to national fame, these stars got their start in Springfield.
Sports run deep in Springfield, and Lanphier High School has long been at the heart of it. It’s no surprise some standout talent once wore the Lion uniform. Today we're celebrating five unforgettable athletes from Lanphier High School who made a name for themselves well beyond the hometown field.
1. Andre Iguodala – NBA Forward (Philadelphia 76’ers, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat)
A memorable Lion, Iguodala was both a model student and a star basketball player, earning all-conference academic honors and leading his team to several state championships. After playing for the University of Arizona, Iguodala played for several notable NBA teams, including the Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat. He currently serves as the executive director of the National Basketball Players' Association. (Sources: arizonawildcats.com, sj-r.com, basketball-reference.com)
2. Kevin Gamble – NBA Forward-Guard (Sacramento Kings, Miami Heat, Portland Trail Blazers, Boston Celtics)
Proudly donning the orange and black, Gamble led Lanphier High School to their only state basketball championship, leading the Lions to a 57-53 victory over Peoria Central in 1983. While attending Lincoln College, he earned National Junior College Athletic Association All-America honors and after attending the University of Iowa, played for the Portland Trail Blazers, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat and Sacramento Kings. Today, Gamble coaches at the University of Illinois Springfield and sponsors numerous youth basketball camps. (Sources: sj-r.com, legendsofbasketball.com)
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3. Andrew Gardner – Collegiate Wrestler
An accomplished wrestler at Lanphier High School, Gardner won the class AA crown at an astonishing 105 pounds as a junior and proudly wore the orange and black as he became the second individual in the school’s history to win a state championship. At Illinois State University, Gardner had an impressive collegiate career, earning four varsity letters and qualifying for the 1994 NCAA Division 1 National Championship. He continues to inspire countless others as a wrestling coach today. (Sources: springfieldsportshalloffame.com, iwcoa.net)
4. Tim Hulett – MLB infielder (Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, St. Louis Cardinals)
A versatile Lion, Hulett played football, basketball and baseball at Lanphier High School and was picked by the Texas Rangers in the 39th round of the 1978 amateur draft. He turned it down instead, choosing to attend the University of South Florida and Miami-Dade Community College, where he was eventually drafted into the Chicago White Sox and soon played for the Baltimore Orioles and the St. Louis Cardinals. Later, Hulett became a coach and is now retired. (Sources: milb.com, baseball-reference.com, sj-r.com)
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5. Marke Freeman – Collegiate Basketball Player
Freeman proudly wore the orange and black as she became the Lady Lions’ all-time leading scorer with 1,845 career points and led them to their first City Tournament title since 1991. After graduation, she attended Northern Illinois University, where she became a 3-time All-conference Player and then played professional basketball in Europe, competing against some of the best players in the world. Freeman coaches at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Division today. (Sources: springfieldsportshalloffame.com, pgcbasketball.com)This content is brought to our community in partnership with T-Mobile.
