Dana Lewis (basketball) facts for kids

Dana Lewis (born October 16, 1949) is a former American basketball player. He played as a center. Dana Lewis played college basketball for two different teams. These were the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles and the Tulsa Golden Hurricane.

Lewis was chosen as the 12th player overall in the 1971 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. However, he spent his professional career playing in other leagues. He played in the Eastern Basketball Association (EBA) and in the Philippines.

Early Life and High School Basketball

In 1966, Dana Lewis moved with his mother to Newark, New Jersey. He went to Weequahic High School in Newark. There, he became a star basketball player.

He played alongside Mo Layton, who also later played in the NBA. Their team was very successful. In the 1966-1967 season, Weequahic High School went undefeated. They won the Group 4 State Championship. This was their second state title in a row.

The Weequahic High School teams from 1965 to 1967 were amazing. All five starting players went on to play college basketball. Two of them, Layton and Lewis, even played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Their coach, Les Fein, remembered them as "excellent players" and "gentlemen."

College Career Highlights

After high school, many colleges wanted Dana Lewis to play for them. On April 19, 1967, the Associated Press reported his decision. Lewis chose to attend Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He made this choice for religious reasons. His family belonged to the Pentecostal Church. Oral Roberts University was named after a famous religious leader.

Playing for Oral Roberts

As a freshman, Lewis played as a 6-foot-10 center for Oral Roberts University. He played in 24 games. In these games, he averaged 16.0 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.

Transferring to Tulsa

After one season, Lewis wanted to transfer from Oral Roberts University. He decided to stay in Tulsa and transfer to the University of Tulsa. To play for Tulsa, he needed a release from Oral Roberts University. While waiting for the release, Lewis worked hauling hay and in construction. He even paid his own tuition for his first semester at Tulsa. Eventually, Oral Roberts himself wrote a special note allowing Lewis to play for Tulsa.

At Tulsa, Lewis played under coach Ken Hayes. He had great seasons:

• In 1969-1970, he averaged 20.3 points and 11.9 rebounds.
• In 1970-1971, he averaged 23.3 points and 13.5 rebounds.

In 1970, Lewis was named the "Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Year." He led the Missouri Valley Conference in scoring in 1970-1971. He was also named First-Team All-MVC in both of his seasons at Tulsa. Lewis still holds a record at Tulsa for most rebounds in a single game. He grabbed 26 rebounds against MacMurray College on December 27, 1969.

Overall, in 52 games for Tulsa, Lewis averaged a double-double. This means he averaged more than 10 points and 10 rebounds per game. His average was 21.8 points and 12.7 rebounds over his two seasons.

After college, Lewis was chosen to play for Team USA in the World University Games. His team won a bronze medal. They lost to the USSR in the final game. George McGinnis, another famous player, was his teammate on that USA team.

Professional Basketball Career

Dana Lewis was a top pick in the 1971 NBA draft. The Philadelphia 76ers chose him as the 12th player overall. This happened on May 9, 1971. He was also drafted by the Virginia Squires in the 1971 ABA Draft. Lewis chose to sign with the 76ers. However, he was cut by the team before playing in an NBA game.

Playing in the EBA

Lewis then played four seasons in the Eastern Basketball Association (EBA). He played for the Hartford Capitols from 1971 to 1974. Then he played for the Cherry Hill Pros from 1974 to 1975. The Hartford Capitols won the EBA league title in the 1973-1974 season. During that championship season, Lewis averaged 12.3 points and 15.3 rebounds per game.

Playing in the Philippines

Later, Lewis played basketball in the Philippine Basketball Association. He played as an "import" player. He played for teams like Presto and Great Taste Coffee Makers from 1976 to 1979.

Honors and Achievements

In 2019, Dana Lewis was honored for his amazing college career. He was inducted into the University of Tulsa Athletics Hall of Fame.

See also

In Spanish: Dana Lewis para niños