2014 Tulane Athletics Hall of Fame Series: Kim Lewis
Nov 11, 2014 | Men's Basketball
This is the third of a five part series featuring the 2014 Tulane Athletics Hall of Fame Class. The 2014 induction ceremonies will take place on Thursday, Nov. 13 from 6-9 p.m. at Yulman Stadium.
By: Brian Miller, Tulane Athletics Communication
The common dream of almost every child that dribbles a basketball is to one day play at the professional level. That dream was no different for Kim Lewis as a young boy growing up in Angie, Louisiana.
Lewis's family instilled in him at a young age that through hard work and determination anything is possible. After a very successful career at Varnado High School, where he averaged 32 points and 14 rebounds per game, Lewis knew Tulane was the next step to take to pursue his dreams.
"Tulane recruited me very hard for three years," Lewis said. "(Assistant) Coach Ron Everhart called me all the time and with me being from Louisiana- about 1.5 hours away from New Orleans- I felt I could come in as a freshman and play a lot right away while getting a big time education."
That is exactly what Lewis did. He entered Tulane in the fall of 1990 as a freshman and immediately made an impact on the court for the Green Wave. Lewis played in 28 games during his rookie season and averaged 11 points per game on his way to being named the 1991 Metro Conference Freshman of the Year.
"Receiving the freshman of the year award was always one of my fondest memories of my time at Tulane," Lewis said. "There are many great memories as well, including being a major part of Tulane's first men's basketball conference championship in 1992."
In 1992, Lewis became the leader of the famed "Posse." Though he started only nine games that season, he was named second-team All-Metro Conference and led Tulane in scoring with a 15.4 average, and the Green Wave won its first conference championship and also reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time.
During his tenure with Tulane, Lewis helped lead the Green Wave to 78 victories, including opening round wins in two NCAA Tournament appearances, and one NIT showing. He remains Tulane's 11th all-time leading scorer (1,384 points) and holds school career records for steals (242) and games played (125) and also ranks on various individual and career lists for three-pointers made (111-7th) and attempted (315-7th), as well as free throws made (351-7th) and attempted (5-7-6th). Lewis was Tulane's T-Club Male Athlete of the Year in 1994-95.
Playing at Tulane as a collegiate career led Lewis to the professional ranks. In 1995, he was drafted in the seventh round (92nd overall) in the Continental Basketball Association Draft by the Sioux Falls Skyforce. He played basketball on the professional level for five years, fulfilling his childhood dream.
While at Tulane, Lewis also realized another dream, one that stands out to him and his family as a very proud achievement. In 1994, Lewis received his degree in media arts from Tulane University.
"The day I walked across the stage and was handed my Tulane degree meant many of my prayers were answered," Lewis said. "I had just become the first person in the family to graduate from college."
"Tulane prepared me for the future in all facets of life," Lewis added. "With Tulane being such a great school environment, it made me adjust and come out of my shell and comfort zone quickly."
One important facet of life that Tulane also prepared Lewis for was the collegiate coaching ranks. Lewis received his first coaching opportunity from Tulane in 1996 and coached at his alma mater for two seasons.
After a professional stint overseas, Lewis returned to the sidelines in 2001 when he accepted an assistant's position at Xavier University (La.). He has been roaming the sidelines at the college level ever since with stops at McNeese State, Northeastern, Duquesne and again at Tulane. Lewis is currently an assistant coach at the University of Richmond.
Lewis' latest chapter of success came with a phone call from Tulane Director of Athletics Rick Dickson.
"I was very overwhelmed with joy when Mr. Rick Dickson called and told me that I had been elected into Tulane's Hall of Fame," Lewis said. "It's not only my accomplishment but it's my mom's as well. She sacrificed so much for me to play the game of basketball. Running through my head was `All the hard work has paid off.' I will always remember the joy I felt that day."
Lewis will join the ranks of the Tulane elite during the Nov. 13 Tulane Athletics Hall of Fame induction and homecoming weekend celebration. He will join baseball standouts Brian Bogusevic and Micah Owings, former football All-American running back Matt Forte and track & field star Gloria Asumnu as the class of 2014.
"I met some great people at Tulane that still influence my life today and I will be forever grateful and appreciative for attending Tulane University," Lewis said. "I love Tulane University dearly and am extremely humbled by this honor."
