Jai Lewis facts for kids
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 13, 1983 Aberdeen, Maryland, U.S. |
| High school | Aberdeen (Aberdeen, Maryland) Maine Central Institute (Pittsfield, Maine) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 275 lb (125 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | George Mason (2002–2006) |
| NBA Draft | 2006 / Undrafted |
| Pro career | 2006–2013 |
| Career history | |
| 2006 | KK Bosna |
| 2006–2007 | Ironi Ramat Gan |
| 2007 | Strasbourg IG |
| 2007–2008 | Hapoel Galil Elyon |
| 2008–2009 | Levanga Hokkaido |
| 2009–2010 | Rain or Shine Elasto Painters |
| 2010 | Ironi Ramat Gan |
| 2010–2011 | Levanga Hokkaido |
| 2011 | Changwon LG Sakers |
| 2011–2013 | Levanga Hokkaido |
| 2013 | Once Caldas |
| 2013 | Sabios de-Manizales |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Jai Lamar Lewis (born February 13, 1983) is an American who used to play professional basketball. Today, he helps people as a behavioral specialist in Parkville, Maryland.
Contents
College Basketball Journey
Jai Lewis grew up in Germany because his parents were in the US Army. He started playing basketball there when he was just 6 years old. When he was 8, his family moved to Aberdeen, Maryland. He played basketball for Aberdeen High School.
He became well-known for his time playing college basketball at George Mason University. Jai Lewis was a power forward. He was a key player for the Patriots during their amazing "Cinderella" journey. This happened in the 2006 Final Four. After college, Lewis was chosen as the 47th player in the 2006 CBA Draft by the Pittsburgh Xplosion.
Trying Out for the NFL
After the 2006 NFL draft, Jai Lewis tried something different. He signed with the New York Giants of the National Football League. He wanted to try playing football, hoping to have a career like famous players Antonio Gates and Marcus Pollard.
He tried out as an offensive tackle. However, he soon decided to stop pursuing an NFL career. He chose to focus on his basketball options instead. At George Mason, he was listed as 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 275 pounds. The Giants, however, listed him as 6 feet 5 inches tall and 292 pounds.
Professional Basketball Career
Weeks after leaving the Giants, Lewis signed a contract to play basketball for KK Bosna. This team was in Europe. He was expected to be an important player for the team, which had won championships before. But after only six weeks, Lewis was released from his contract. The team thought he was too short to play power forward in their league.
Playing in Israel
Soon after leaving Bosna, Lewis signed to play in Israel for Ironi Ramat Gan. He played 27 games for them. During this time, he averaged 15.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game.
Moving to France and Back to Israel
After his first season in Israel, Jai Lewis signed with Strasbourg IG, a French team. He only played four games there. He averaged just 3 points per game, and Strasbourg released him.
After playing for Strasbourg, Jai Lewis signed with Hapoel Galil Elyon. This was another Israeli team that played in the ULEB Cup. He finished the 2008 season with them. In league games, he averaged 12.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.7 steals.
Playing in Asia
Next, Lewis played for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the Philippine Basketball Association. He played alongside his former George Mason University teammate, Gabe Norwood.
Before the 2010-11 season, he returned to Ironi Ramat Gan in Israel. He played four games in the Liga Leumit in 2010. Then, he moved to Japan to play top-level basketball. In 2013, after playing in Colombia, he retired from professional basketball.
See also
- George Mason Patriots men's basketball
- 2005-06 George Mason Patriots men's basketball season
- 2004-05 George Mason Patriots men's basketball team
