From facing 6-10 guys in the paint in USports to throwing down over top of a defender on the hard court at Lethbridge College.
USports is another post-secondary sports league that is in Alberta.
Lincoln Anderson, Kodiaks recruit and former USports basketball player, has been playing basketball for as long as he can remember.
He started playing competitively in grade 7 and played throughout high school in Cardston.
But his biggest accomplishment of his basketball career is winning the provincial championships in grades 11 and 12 where he also won league MVP.
“Provincials is a highlight for sure like, winning a provincial title in high school was a great time for sure.”
After he graduated from high school, he went on a two year church mission trip to New Zealand.
When he got back, he went to the University of Lethbridge and did a red shirt semester their which is where you just practice with the team but you never play in games.
Just last season, he played for Grant MacEwan Griffins in the CIS.
He averaged seven points per game, 2.9 rebounds per game and had a 28 per cent three point percentage while playing for the Griffins.
The second-year guard and forward believes having USports experience will help him quite a bit as players are a lot smaller in ACAC.
“It’s a lot easier to drive into the paint and you’re not shooting over 6-10 guys for the most part. It’s different in a lot of ways, but I feel like my experience at the CIS level will help quite a bit.”
In the Kodiaks home opener against the SAIT Trojans, he proved that as he drove into the paint and dunked it over one of the Trojan’s defenders.
Throughout the preseason Anderson believes he scored the game well but definitely will need to work on on-ball defense.
However, he explained his game will improve with a coach who is always in your face.
“He gets in our face when he needs to which I appreciate that. I have had a few coaches in the past that are really laid back and we don’t progress as much.”
Head coach Ryan Heggie said he wanted Anderson three years ago, but only landed him six months ago when Anderson came to him asking to play.
Heggie is impressed with Anderson’s skills and believes it’s a good recruit for the team.
“He is a scoring threat, he is a rebounding threat and when he wants to be, he can be a defensive threat. He wants to be the best person possible and always works hard during practice.”
The veteran coach explained it’s not just his offensive and defensive abilities that he brings to the team, it’s also his will to win and love for the game.
“He loves to win. He loves playing the game which is infectious because everyone has got to love basketball. You can’t love it for the two hours you’re here. You got to work on it during your off time.”
According to Anderson, he already loves playing for the Kodiaks. He likes the group of guys that has been put together and couldn’t ask for better teammates.
“Our team is great. I love our team. We have good chemistry, we work well together. It’s a lot of fun guys to play with.”
Anderson has already earned himself one player of the game honor when the team faced off against the SAIT Trojans for its home opener.
You can catch Anderson and the Kodiaks at home this Friday at 8 p.m. when the team faces off against Medicine Hat Rattlers.