BY DAN MOELLER BRODHEAD – Statistically, only a small percentage of high school basketball players earn scholarships to Division I basketball programs. Brodhead senior Dana Lewis is now a member of that elite group. The 6 foot, 2-inch senior signed a letter of intent last Tuesday to play basketball next year at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. Lewis said she visited the school last February and also in August. “I just loved it, so I picked it.”
Lewis said she thought about waiting until next April to sign but decided to sign now in case she got hurt during the season. Other schools she considered where Toledo and Michigan Tech, “but I wanted to do something new and they didn’t really trip my trigger.” Lewis still has her senior season at Brodhead but it definitely looking forward to playing college basketball. “I’m so excited to be a college athlete.”
Last year she averaged 14.5 points, nine rebounds and two blocks for an 18-4 Brodhead team. She likes that the school is near Baltimore but not in it. She also likes that the school is close to the ocean, “which is cool.”
The University of Maryland-Baltimore County, nicknamed the Retrievers, has been looking at her for the last year and a half, said her dad, Dan. “They were really honest and they stepped forward and put the offer out there.”
Dana said that Retriever coach Phil Stern has “always been straight up with me and he’s a genuinely nice guy.” He never lied to her or told her only what she wanted to hear, she said. The program is similar to Brodhead because it plays against good competition. They also run the style of offense that she is used to. Chuck Chandler, her AAU coach, says Lewis is ready for the challenge. “She definitely has got a Division I body,” said Chandler. “She did a great job this summer with extending her offensive game. She knocked down some three’s this year and just wasn’t a true back to the basket, five player, which is really going to help her at the next level. I think she will do well. In fact, I will be very surprised if she doesn’t play her freshman year.”
Of course, her parents Dan and Rhonda Lewis are definitely proud of her. It wasn’t just innate ability that got her to where she’s at, he said. She’s also worked hard. “Since junior high she’s worked hard. It took a lot of work. It’s not as easy as some people think. We’re extremely proud of her.” It’s exciting for a school the size of Brodhead to have a Division I recruit, said Brodhead girls basketball coach Brad Pickett. Pickett is the new girls coach this year and doesn’t coach Dana in a game until Saturday.
Lewis’ size will help her tremendously, said Pickett. “She does have a nice soft touch around the basket,” and her work ethic will help her, too.
Lewis has started since her freshman year. She was honorable mention all-conference as a sophomore and first team all-conference last year.
