The next chapter of Ironwood Ridge basketball begins with its sophomore standout

You can’t miss Ironwood Ridge High School varsity basketball player Lucas Anderson on any court.

The 16-year-old towers above the rest with his slender frame, standing tall at 6-4, but it’s not just his height that’s attention-grabbing. 

It’s the way he can gracefully sink 3-pointers during games. 

In his first season with Ironwood Ridge, he racked up 55 3-pointers, helping him land his first major recognition in high school: “Southern Arizona Boys Basketball Freshman Player of the Year” by All Sports Tucson and ArizonaPreps.com.

This season, he’s logged 34 3-pointers, putting him at the No. 37 spot in the state for 3-pointers. But there are still 10 games left in the regular season, so he could easily surpass last season’s total. 

He has a total of 89 career 3-pointers in just 1½ seasons.

While those numbers are impressive, Anderson is on track to beat a school record that was set over 20 years ago. In the 2002-04 season, Dylan Johnson set Ironwood Ridge’s career record for 3-pointers with 113. 

Anderson could reach or exceed that number by the end of his sophomore season.

“If he continues to play at the level he plays at, he has the opportunity to break it this year,” says Justin Coleman, Ironwood Ridge’s varsity boys basketball coach and former University of Arizona basketball player. “Throughout his high school career, he’ll have the opportunity to score the most points (in history) at Ironwood (Ridge).”

Ironwood Ridge’s career points record of 932 was also set by Johnson in the 2002-04 season. Anderson currently has 466 points as of press time.

For Anderson, playing basketball and putting up major numbers is just a part of his DNA.

“My whole family played it (basketball),” Anderson says. “My mom and dad played it in college, and that's how they met. And then all three of my older siblings play it. So, it just runs in the family.”

His brother, Cole, played at various schools like South Mountain and Western Iowa Tech community colleges, while his sister, Leah, played at Ottawa University in Surprise.

His other sister, Sidney, who also played at Ironwood Ridge before moving to Salpointe Catholic, currently plays for Grand Canyon University in Phoenix. During her time at Ironwood Ridge, Sidney set a few school records of her own — but that’s a story for another time.

The younger Anderson sibling began playing basketball when he was around 4 or 5 years old, he says, in addition to baseball. 

By the time middle school rolled around, Anderson says he realized he was better at basketball and decided to stick with hoops. 

Before winter sports arrive, Anderson participates in a local fall league club to sharpen his skills in the off-season. Just this past fall, he successfully hit a half-court shot. The moment, filled with teammates jumping up and down and pure excitement, has become his favorite memory of playing basketball.

But it’s not all half-court shots and breaking records. There are highs and lows to playing the game.

In those low moments, Anderson looks to his teammates.

“There's games that you can, you know, shoot bad,” he says. “Maybe energy is low or maybe you're getting guarded heavily, but you just got to push through it and rely on your teammates. This is a team sport after all.”

Anderson describes this season’s team as one with a lot of good energy.

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“We play a lot as a team and I think that's what helps us win those games,” he says.

In their latest game against Marana on Jan. 8, Ironwood Ridge defeated the Tigers 54-39, moving the Nighthawks’ record to 7-1 in AIA play this season.

In 31 minutes on the court, Anderson put up 15 points (his average this season is 17.2 per game), including one 3-pointer. He also had three defensive rebounds and an assist.

The Nighthawks will face Canyon Del Oro at home on Tuesday.

Sports in general play a major role in Anderson’s life, even outside of basketball.

During his free time from basketball and maintaining a 4.7 GPA in school, he enjoys playing golf, watching Chicago Bears football and collecting sports cards. At this time, he has around 2,000 cards that he’s collected over 10 years.

Although graduation is still a couple of years away, Anderson knows that he wants to play basketball at the next level, just like his siblings. 

“I would love to play anywhere,” he says.

After college, Anderson is thinking about a career in law enforcement, either joining a police department or the FBI.

Wherever Anderson lands after high school, he’s bound to reach new heights on and off the court.

“It’s hard to put it in one word, but I think he’s such an extraordinary, great kid,” Coleman says. “He does everything we ask him to do, which is hard work. He’s caring, compassionate and cares for others. He’s a big believer in serving people. … It’s been a honor to be able to coach such a skilled and talented kid.”

Fast Five with Lucas

If you could join any basketball team, professional or collegiate, at any time period, what team would you join? 

The 2014 Kentucky team. They played really well together and they were fun to watch.

What’s your dream sports card to obtain?

Probably a Cooper Flagg autograph card.

If you could play one-on-one with any basketball player, who would you play with?

Steph Curry.

What’s your current pre-game routine?

So, I get here about an hour and a half to an hour and 45 minutes (before the game), I stretch for like 30 minutes, and then I go through a shooting routine for another 30 to 45 minutes, and then I just work on some finishing. And then we get together and talk and then we do some passing, and then we pray, and then I get out there and play.

What’s your favorite class in school right now?

Physics. My teacher is nice and I like numbers and the class.