Jada Lewis
- School
- Mercer University
- Position
- Guard
- Major
- Higher Education Leadership
Classroom
Lewis has been an outstanding student throughout her collegiate career, both at Mercer and Georgia State. Lewis finished her undergrad with a 4.02 GPA, graduating Summa Cum Lade with a degree in journalism with a minor in sociology. A two-time member of the Sun Belt Conference Commissioner’s List, Lewis landed on the Dean’s List every semester while earning a spot on the President’s List seven times.
Additionally, Lewis was named a 2018-19 Google Cloud First Team Academic All-District honoree. Lewis has a multitude of goals and aspirations she would like to achieve after graduation outside of basketball. Lewis intends to use her journalism background to become an author and publish a memoir as well as a series of children’s books.
Lewis is also poised to remain involved in sports as a commentator, journalist, studio host or working in an administrative role at the collegiate level. Additionally, Lewis strives to work within ‘Athletes in Action’ at universities across the country to spread the word of God and share her faith-based story.
Character
Lewis is a true natural-born leader. These traits are evident on-and-off the court both in her actions and in how she carries herself. Lewis leads by example, giving 100-percent in everything she does, and holds those around her to the same high standard she holds herself. The energy Lewis brought to Mercer was evident from the first moment she stepped into Hawkins Arena and has spread throughout the rest of the team.
Lewis has overcome a number of obstacles in her life, but none greater than the hardships of her sophomore year. After having a bad stroke, Lewis’ father was admitted to the hospital for 3-and-a-half-months where the medical staff found he had end stage chronic kidney disease. In addition to the pressures to lead her team on the court and perform in the classroom, Lewis had the well-being of her best friend at the forefront of her thoughts. Lewis spent whatever free time she had in the hospital with her father, including sleeping at the hospital rather than in her own bed in order to be with him.
The choice to quit or let what was happening in her personal life affect her performance as a student-athlete would have been easy for Lewis; but that’s just not how she is wired. Instead, Lewis continued to fight alongside her father and push forward each and every day that season. Lewis’ efforts culminated in All-Sun Belt and Academic-All-District selections as she led GSU to its first postseason appearance in 17 years.
Community
Lewis has made a commitment to improving her community in the greater-Atlanta area, contributing to a plethora of community service projects.
Lewis’ humanitarian efforts began prior to her arrival at Georgia State in the summer of 2016, assisting in landscaping and home makeover projects in an effort to reshape the community and give it a cleaner look after the area had been damaged. Lewis prepared food for the homeless people around Atlanta later that year in December as she began her freshman campaign on the hardwood.
Lewis continued to make an impact in her community during the winters of 2018 and 2019, participating in an elderly home shelter event where she raked leaves and aided in the yard maintenance for senior citizens both years. This past summer, Lewis and her father took part in a fraternity giveaway where they served hot dogs and hamburgers to homeless people throughout Atlanta.
Competition
Lewis has experienced a great deal of success at the collegiate level, garnering two All-Sun Belt nods in her time at Georgia State, and earning a spot on the second team in 2018-19 and the third team in 2016-17. Lewis was named the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year in 2016-17 after leading the Panthers in scoring (11.6) and assists (1.9) per game.
Lewis has been an offensive threat throughout her career, amassing 1,134 points and 190 assists through 97 games. Lewis has reached double figures on 58 occasions, including 13 20-point performances and a career-high 30 points against N.C. Central on Dec. 20, 2018. Lewis has made 409 field goals throughout her career, including 135 3-pointers. In addition to her offensive production, Lewis is also a tenacious defender and has generated 136 steals.
Lewis currently ranks 69th career points among active Division I players and is 1 of 22 players in Georgia State’s 1,000-point club. Lewis ranks fifth in Panthers’ history in career free throw percentage and sixth in 3-pointers made.