Spotlighting Lincoln Athletes by Jersey Number- #34

Continuing our series featuring our student athletes - highlighted by number;  
Today's installment  spotlights athletes who wore the #34

Dr. Tarron Richardson is the only player in program history to score more than 1,500 points and have 1,000 rebounds and was part of Lincoln’s inaugural class for their Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012.  He averaged doubled figures for both points and rebounds all four seasons while wearing a Lincoln uniform. Richardson eclipsed the 1,000-point mark during his junior year and added 1,000 rebounds to his resume during his senior season in 1998-99, becoming the second player in program history to join the 1,000-1,000 club.  He was also a Street & Smith's pre-season Division III all-American selection for 1998-99.  Richardson also shattered a backboard during his senior season in a game at Marymount University.   He was the recipient of the Sam Cozen Award as the top small college player in the Philadelphia area following the 97-98 season, one in which Richardson averaged 11.5 rebounds and 16.2 points per game. His 1,512 career points is second only to teammate Darrel Lewis who scored over 2,000 in his career playing alongside Richardson for all four seasons. Richardson is one of just two men’s basketball players in program history to have their number retired. He holds a doctorate degree in Public Policy and Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a master’s degree from Temple in addition to his Bachelor of Science degree from Lincoln.  Dr. Richardson is currently the City Manager for the city of Charlottesville, Virginia.

Dennis Caldwell was a four-year starter for the Lions’ men’s basketball team from 1973-1977. In 92 games, Caldwell scored 1,335 points leaving the program as its all-time scoring leader following the conclusion of his senior year.  This mark stood until 1999 when Tarron Richardson and Darrel Lewis surpassed Caldwell’s total. He is currently fourth on the Lions’ all-time list.  Caldwell was named the Philadelphia sports Writers Association Player of the Week twice, once during his junior season and again in his senior year when he averaged 23 points per game.  He was named to the NAIA All-District 19 team in 1977.  Caldwell’s 49.4% shooting from the field ranks sixth all-time while his 14.4 points per game average for his career in tenth.

Joy Morton joined the women’s basketball team in 2019 and was an integral part of the Lions’ most successful season in program history, averaging 6.0 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. One of just four players to play in every game, Morton split time as a starter and a key reserve off the bench, averaging nearly 20 minutes a game.  She tied a school record for free throw percentage in a game with a perfect 12-for-12 from the line against Johnson c. Smith, keying an LU comeback from a 15-point second half deficit.  Morton was second on the team with 139 rebounds which included a career-high 16 against Cheyney University.  She was one of five players on the team to make 15 or more three-point field goals (16) and was fourth on the team with 43 assists.

Ashley Paynes-Hightower played two seasons on the women’s basketball team from 2016-2018, appearing in 30 games.  She scored a career-high 14 points against nationally ranked Virginia Union University her senior year and grabbed a career-high ten rebounds against Pitt-Johnstown her junior season.  In her two years as a Lion, Paynes-Hightower averaged 5.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game while shooting 46.1% from the field.

Other Lincoln athletes who wore  #34 (in no particular order): Stephanos Gherbrehwiet - Football (2013, 2015);  Derian Calnick - Football (2009-10); Lisa Saunders - women's basketball (2012-13); Chauntel Seymour  - Women's Basketball (2013-14); Rarday Burrell - Football (2019-)