Jan. 20, 2004
By Simit Shah
Ask anyone about Marvin Lewis, and you hear the same comments over and over. That’s only appropriate, given that the Georgia Tech senior guard is a model of consistency.
“He’s just one of those guys that you never have to worry about,” according to his coach, Paul Hewitt. “He’s going to come to practice and work hard everyday, and he’s going to be on the dean’s list every semester. I think every coach understands and recognizes how important it is to have a guy like that in your program. He’s a great example for our players.”
Part of Hewitt’s first freshman class, Lewis has been setting that example for the past four years. The Germantown, Maryland native has been a mainstay in Hewitt’s starting lineup from the moment he stepped on campus, and he has proven successful in every aspect of his career as a student-athlete.
“In the beginning, I just wanted to come in here and do what coached asked,” Lewis recounted. “Hopefully, I’d get a chance to play. You start with your eyes wide open, because you don’t know what to expect.”
Lewis certainly didn’t expect to start immediately, much less at small forward. At 6-4 with a silky smooth shooting stroke, his game was more suited for the perimeter, but the Jackets were undermanned and undersized up front.
A testament to his versatility, Lewis responded with a solid season that earned him a berth on the ACC Freshman team, finishing third in scoring, rebounding and assists among the league’s rookies.
He’s also proved that he can contribute as either a starter or reserve, which he has done at times this season. In his first game off the bench, he poured in a team-high 17 points against Virginia on January 15.
So far this season, Lewis is averaging 12 points a game while shooting a career-best 43 percent from the field. He also ranks fourth in the ACC with 29 three-pointers.
“Coach has always preached about being ready to play,” he explained. “It doesn’t really matter whether you’re starting or coming off the bench, you’ll get a chance to contribute. One of the great things about this team is that everyone accepts and understands their role.”
Lewis, who turned 21 in November, also serves as the team’s captain, a role that he assumed as a junior last season. It required him to depart from his normally quiet personality, and he admits that he struggled with the responsibility at times.
“That was a tough experience, but I learned from it,” he said. “I’ve learned not to try to take it all on my shoulders. We’ve got guys like [Clarence Moore] and Robert Brooks, plus Jarrett Jack has really stepped up this year. That’s made it easier to handle this year.”
“I think Marvin did a great job last year,” noted sophomore Jarrett Jack. “I just think the way we played didn’t reflect his leadership. He really did a great job keeping me focused. When I was down on myself for playing lackluster, he was there to encourage me.”
That leadership is one of reasons for the Yellow Jackets’ surprising resurgence this season, as they went from being picked to finish in the bottom third of the ACC to a top five ranking in December.
While the team has enjoyed the success, which included a record 12-0 start, it has special significance for Lewis. “All the hard work — the 6 a.m. runs, shooting slumps, losing all those road games my sophomore year — is paying off right now,” he said. “It feels real good, especially since this is my senior year. You want to go out with a bang.”
Amid the team’s early season success, Lewis reached the reached the 1,000 point mark for career scoring, becoming just the 34th player in Georgia Tech history to reach that milestone.
For all his success on the court the past four years, Lewis has reached even greater heights in the classroom. The Management major has earned Dean’s List honors virtually every semester, including this past fall when he finished with a 3.8 GPA.
Lewis will graduate in May, finishing his degree in exactly four years. That’s a rare feat at Georgia Tech, known for its stringent academic curriculum. “My dad always stressed being well-balanced, so I’ve always tried to be a true student-athlete,” stated Lewis, whose father Nathan is a teacher.
“Marvin is such a fine representative of our program,” Hewitt said. “When we go on recruiting trips, we tell recruits and their parents about Marvin to show that they can be successful in basketball and academics.”
While he plans to pursue a basketball career after graduation, Lewis already has a job offer from a local accounting firm waiting for him.
“Marvin asked me to call them and give a recommendation,” recalled Hewitt with a smile. “When I called, they asked me, ‘Coach, how do we get him?’ Here I am trying to extol his virtues, and they were asking me to put in a good word for them.
“Whoever has him in their organization, whether it’s basketball or business, will get somebody who is productive every single day.”
