Lincoln’s Davion Shareef-Dulaney is News Tribune’s 2026 All-Area player of year
Ryan Rogers has never coached a player like Davion Shareef-Dulaney.
The quick twitchiness, the fiery disposition, the intense competitiveness, the acrobatic finishes at the rim — Lincoln’s star sophomore is a unique basketball player.
“His style is very unique,” Rogers said. “A huge part is his confidence. His ability to score at any level, whether it’s finishing at the rim, dunking, midrange, hitting step back threes. His ability to just counter your way of trying to guard him is his best ability.”
Shareef-Dulaney, one of the state’s best guards, passed 1,000 career points in his first two high school seasons in February’s 3A district tournament. He led Lincoln to the district title and an upset win over No. 2 O’Dea in the 3A state tournament regional and a win over Bellevue in the quarterfinals at the Tacoma Dome.
His brightest moments came against Eastside Catholic in the state semifinals earlier this month at the Tacoma Dome. Late in the game, he hit a step back 3-pointer to give Lincoln the lead before swatting away Eastside Catholic’s shot on the final possession, sending the Abes through the 3A state championship game.
It was Lincoln’s first appearance in the state championship game since 2002. Shareef-Dulaney is The News Tribune’s 2026 All-Area boys basketball player of the year.
“It was a generational run,” he told The News Tribune during the TNT’s All-Area photo shoot on Saturday morning at Lincoln High School, his home court. “We hit our peak at the end of the season, after playoffs, we just started going on a run. Us defeating some big 206 teams, how much that means to our mini town, it’s just like amazing. We came up short, but we’re still proud to make it in that spot.”
Lincoln fell to Rainier Beach in the 3A title game in front of a packed crowd at the Tacoma Dome.
“I’d say it was like another game, but it was definitely not another game,” he said. “There was a lot of people there.”
The loss already has Shareef-Dulaney motivated to return to next year’s championship game.
“It’s really motivating,” he said. “I had a little interview after the game, and I said some things (referring to his comment to The News Tribune about hoping Rainier Beach recruits another player next year so he can beat them in the title game). That sits in the back of my mind every day. I want to get to that same spot and win next year.”
Alongside teammate Justus Holt, who will also be a junior, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Lincoln made it back next year. Shareef-Dulaney averaged 22.5 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals this year. He was a first-team 3A Puget Sound League Narrows division selection.
“Taking charges, getting blocks, hitting the game-winners,” Shareef-Dulaney said. “I elevated my game from last year.”
Rogers said his competitive drive sets him apart.
“He’s an ultimate team competitor,” Rogers said. “He wants to win, whatever it takes.”
Can he bring home Lincoln’s first state title in 25 years next winter at the Tacoma Dome?
“The sky’s the limit,” Rogers said. “He really wants to win, wants to bring a state title home. Losing in the fashion that we did is just gonna make him even more hungry.”
