The following are additional quotes from our interview with Tyler Lewis:
Q: When you play one-on-one with your brother (current UNC-Charlotte basketball player), who wins?
A: “Probably him… haha. He’s more physical than I am right now. He’ll take me down low and get the easy bucket.”
Q: Is your court vision and basketball IQ something that you have to constantly work on or is it just a natural gift?
A: “I think it’s both. I’ve been around the game so long and I just watch it. Just seeing the open player and where they’ll be at, at a certain time, and know where to throw it, I think that’s very important. Plus, I have a trainer that is always telling me to look up, constantly. He doesn’t want me to look down one bit.”
Q: Do you feel like you’re overlooked or underestimated as a player (both in gaining exposure and in rankings)?
A: “It doesn’t bother me, I think I’ll get some more as I go along, but as of right now I just have to stay humble and stay on the path… I think it’s just like the first time they see me play, people do underestimate me. The second time, they’re all over me and try to get at me.”
Q: What are your strengths?
A: “Probably my basketball IQ, my shooting, and reading the passing lanes.”
Q: What are some things you need to get better at?
A: “On the ball defense. And getting bigger and stronger.”
Q: What’s something you will look for when choosing your college destination?
A: “I want to go somewhere where I can go in there and at least get playing time in my first year. I don’t want to go somewhere where I’ll sit the bench all four years.”
Q: What might be some other things you look for in a school?
A: “Freedom with the ball, push the ball up the court, I’m not the type of person to walk the ball up the court.”
Q: Do you view Chris Paul as a positive role model, seeing his recent involvement in the Pro-Am and camp?
A: “Chris Paul is a great role model. During the whole camp, he was there teaching us the whole time. And even when we played this three-on-three tournament, he was on my team, with this one kid from Detroit. He was teaching us and he understood we weren’t on his level. He just tried to get us better constantly. He just showed us a lot of attention. Some players say they’re too good and NBA superstars, and while he’s out here, he’s just trying to get us better.”
Q: What is your favorite food to eat?
A: “Chicken… Fried Chicken”
Q: If you’re not playing basketball, what are you doing?
A: “Homework or hanging out with friends”
Q: What’s your favorite movie?
A: “Anything with Adam Sandler”
Q: What’s your favorite NBA team?
A: “Lakers”
Q: Who’s your favorite NBA player?
A: “Kobe… Or Nash”
Q: What’s in your iPod right now?
A: “The Blueprint 3 (by Jay Z) and J Cole (Fayetteville, NC)
Q: Do you have any superstitions before a game?
A: “No, I don’t.”
Q: Was Memphis Roar’s YouTube of you from the Carolina Challenege back in March you’re first YouTube video?
A: “Yea, that was the first YouTube. Haha”
Q: Would you like to wrap this up with a shoutout to anyone?
A: “Shoutout to all my fans and family, and my trainer, Coach Jearwaun Tuck (played at Seton Hall). He’s teaching me a lot”
