Staying focused and continuing to develop can be tough for many college players, even under the best circumstances. Having to do it while your program is in a cycle of losing games and changing coaches can be near impossible, but Marist’s Chavaughn Lewis was able to keep it all in perspective as he continued to excel on and off the court.
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Lewis, a 6’5, 185 pound guard out of Queens, New York, finished as the Red Foxes’ all-time leading scorer with 2,119 points, and led the team in scoring all four seasons. This past season, he was among the top scorers in the nation at almost 21 points per game, while leading the team in assists and blocks, and finishing second in rebounding. Also, Lewis was among the top players in the country in steals per game at 2.3.
Now, Lewis, who will graduate from Marist with a degree in Criminal Justice, is preparing for his next step as a basketball player. With his college career behind him, Lewis was able to reflect on what the past four years have done for him, on and off the court.
Though his game continued to improve throughout his college career, Lewis had to deal with some tough times. “Mentally, I became much stronger dealing with all the adversity throughout my career,” Lewis explained. “I had to develop maturity quickly since I was being counted on to contribute as a freshman, plus I had three different coaches in my four years at Marist.”
Lewis played his first two seasons for Chuck Martin, who was then replaced by Jeff Bower for his junior year, and finally current coach Mike Maker as a senior. Though that situation isn’t ideal for any player, Lewis made the most of it. “I tried to enter each transition with a positive mindset,” said Lewis. “The coaches made it easy also, motivating and pushing me to get better.”
“My biggest strengths are my energy and passion towards the game,” said Lewis. “I have quickness and athleticism, and can be a lockdown defender and scorer. I don’t think of myself as just a scorer; I’m a basketball player.”
As Lewis prepares to work out for teams, he is focused on improving some important parts to his game. “I need to work on my ballhandling, especially since guys at the next level are so much bigger and faster,” Lewis said. “Potentially, I’ll be in a position to have the ball in my hands and I need to get by my guy. Also, shooting more consistently from the outside is an area I want to improve.”
A few weeks back, Lewis had the opportunity to take part in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament for the nation’s top seniors. He was named to the All-Tournament Team, averaging 16.7 points and 2.3 steals per game, while shooting 55 percent from the field, and 50 percent from three-point range.
Lewis’ trip to Portsmouth almost didn’t happen though. “I got the call at 10 am that I had to fly to Virginia and be there in time for a 7 pm game, “said Lewis. “I had to go straight from the airport to the gym for my first game.”
Though added to the tournament late, Lewis was ready to make an impact. “I went in with an underdog mentality,” said Lewis. “But when the opportunity presents itself, you need to make sure you’re ready to perform.”
With his pro career ready to start soon, Lewis has a good idea of how he can help his new team immediately. “With my game and my mindset, I can be a strong role player and energy guy,” Lewis explained. “I can be put in to stop a key a guy. I can do whatever it takes to help my team.”
Wherever his career takes him next and whatever challenges he faces, Lewis is ready to take it all on. “I come from a background where nothing was handed to me,” Lewis said. “I’ve earned everything I’ve gotten, and my commitment will always be higher than those who have things handed to them. I haven’t reached my peak yet, and I still have a lot of room left for growth.”
Seeing how far Lewis has come to this point, it wouldn’t be wise to bet against him achieving all of his goals.
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