Bobby Lewis (basketball, born 1946)

Bobby Lewis

Bobby Lewis, South Carolina State College Bulldogs 1964-1968
Personal information
Born	July 25, 1946 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Listed height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Listed weight	165 lb (75 kg)
Career information
High school	John Bartram (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
College	South Carolina State (1964–1968)
ABA draft	1968 / Round: 5 / Pick: 2nd overall
Selected by the Dallas Chaparrals
Playing career	1968–1974
Position	Guard
Number	10
Coaching career	1978–1981
Career history
As player:
1968–1969	Gillette Corporation/USA All Stars
1969–1974	Wilmington Blue Bombers (EBL)
As coach:
1978–1981	Haverford College (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
High School All American(Eastern Selection) 1964 3x Bulldog Team Captain 1965-68 3x All SIAC Conference Team 1966-68 Most Valuable Player SIAC Tournament, 1967 SIAC Championship Team 1966-67 Led team to NCAA DII Regional Finals 1967 UPI Small Colleges 1st Team All American, 1967 NCAA #8 Leading Scorer, 30.9ppg 1967-68 Most Outstanding Athlete, SC State University, 1967 South Carolina State University Hall of Fame, 1998 John Bartram High School Hall of Fame, 1998 Dr. James A. Naismith Foundation Award, 1998
Medals Competitor for  United States Basketball 1967 FIBA Small Player's World Cup Games Barcelona United States

Robert F. "Bobby" Lewis, M.Ed. (born July 25, 1946) is an American former college basketball player known for his flamboyant dribbling, passing, and play-making. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Lewis was a playground and YMCA legend from an early age. His legend grew while at John Bartram High School where he was able to showcase the many moves he adapted from his Hall of Fame mentor, Guy Rodgers.

Early years

Before focusing on basketball, Lewis excelled at table tennis and baseball. In 1960 he was invited to the Youth Table Tennis National Championships in New York, NY after becoming the City of Philadelphia champion. Lewis along with three other youth sports standouts were participants in the TastyKake Baking Company's "Salute to Youth" Campaign that same year. In 1963 he was a member of the City Championship Baseball team along with Major League Baseball Scout Hall of Famer Al Goldis.^[1] The following year he was selected for the 1st Team All City Basketball Team and was also selected as an Eastern Region High School Basketball All American along with Hall of Famer Lew Alcindor.

College

Lewis rose to prominence at a national level while playing basketball at then Division II South Carolina State College, located in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Under hall of fame coach Ed Martin, Lewis averaged 12 points his freshman year, 11.9 points as a sophomore and 19.1 points as a junior. In 1967, his second year as the team captain, Lewis led his team to the NCAA DII Regional Finals. That same year he was selected as team captain and flag bearer for the United States team in the FIBA Small Player's World Cup Games.^[2] The team won the gold medal and was coached by Hall of Famer, John McClendon.^[2]

Hall of Fame Coach John McClendon along with two of his former players, Bobby Lewis and Ben Warley, and NBA great Ollie Johnson.

Lewis came back the next year to record an amazing 30.9 points and 11.8 assists per game in his senior year.^[3] He was the #8 leading scorer in the NCAA which earned him UPI Small Colleges 1st Team All American honors.^[2]

References

1. Fernandes, Doug (2009-06-16). "Goldis heading to the Hall ... scout's honor". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved 2014-08-13.
2. "S.C. State Star Lewis Is Honored". Sports Section. Spartanburg Herald-Journal. 1968-03-13. Retrieved 2014-08-13.
3. NCAA (1968). "1968 Cumulative Basketball Statistics Report - SC State College" (PDF). NCAA Stats Archive. NCAA. Retrieved 2014-08-13.