At one point, after transferring from Bowling Green and not having started a game at Ohio State, the idea of Ron Lewis playing professional basketball at any level seemed like a pipe dream at best, especially considering the glut of NBA talent the Buckeyes were adding via a dream recruiting class.

Almost a three full years after a memorable final stretch of his Buckeye career, Lewis is still looking to defy the odds by making it to the NBA. I was lucky enough to catch up with Lewis to shed light on the life of a professional basketball player overseas and his quest to play in the NBA.

Finishing Strong

Despite a great start to his senior season, Lewis found himself struggling down the stretch of Big Ten play and was taken out of the starting lineup in a late February showdown against Minnesota. In what could have a demoralizing blow to his confidence and professional ambitions, Lewis took the demotion in stride and used it as a life lesson that he still points to nearly three years later.

“I took it as a learning curve and used it to my advantage,” recalls a nostalgic Lewis. “I came off the bench that game and had a great game (16 points) and I told myself I was going to finish the season playing the same way and was not going to hold anything back. It helped me out through that year, and it is still helping me to this day.”

Lewis and the Buckeyes entered the NCAA tournament as the No. 1 team in the country with lofty expectations. Looking back at the improbable Buckeye march to the championship game, Lewis can vividly remember the experience and his heroic efforts that cemented him a place in Buckeye lore.

“I think about the Xavier game the most, not because of the shot, but because of how I ended the last five to ten minutes of that game,” Lewis said. “I watch the game hearing Gus Johnson saying, ‘Ron Lewis refusing to let his team lose.’ I just love it. The UT game for me was just fun, already being in that situation before in the Xavier game. It didn't put any extra pressure on me or the other players. We just went out there and played and I loved that game too.

Another Uphill Challenge

With a very strong tournament performance, Lewis was projected by many to hear his name called at the NBA draft. Unfortunately though, Lewis went undrafted, something that he was prepared for but still stung.

“I knew in the back of my mind that my name could have been called, but at the same time I knew there was a chance that it would not be called as well,” Lewis said. “I was hoping for the best and I was proud and excited to see my teammates being drafted. It wasn't that heartbreaking to not hear my name called, but I was a little hurt. All I did was continue to prepare myself like I was going to the NBA, no matter where I was going to be the next year.”

Similar to his benching against Minnesota, Lewis took the setback in stride and has been diligently honing his craft overseas.

“It’s all about opportunity and staying focused,” Lewis said. “The NBA is always looking for players. I take every game like the NBA is watching. The main thing is just to try and polish your game for when you get that opportunity and that chance.”

Thriving in Europe

A lot of former Buckeye players have made the trip to overseas, but many have faded into obscurity as their career fizzled out or have seen their window of opportunity get closed. The same cannot be said for Lewis, who has really stood out in Europe in his two-plus years abroad.

In his first year playing in the Belgium league, Lewis led the league in scoring before switching to the more competitive Israeli league. Lewis was among the scoring leaders in that league as well on a competitive team that went far in the playoffs. Lewis’s third season in Europe thus far has also been very successful.

“My team is doing good,” Lewis said. “We are 18-0 right now and about to start the Eurocup competition. I'm in Italy as we speak. I'm averaging about 14 points per game but this team doesn't need much scoring from me because we have a lot of scorers on the team, which makes it better and we are winning with that method.”

Americans can pop in a DVD of the movie “Mr. Baseball” to gain some perspective on baseball in Japan. However, basketball in Europe remains an unknown quantity to the average basketball fan. Lewis shed some light on the some of the cultural and style differences that he faces overseas.

“From a crowd standpoint, the fans have the drums and horns for the game and not a band,” Lewis said. “They play and blow the horns and drums the whole game. The style of play is also different as you can play more aggressive and also you can knock the ball off the rim if it is on the rim.”

Lewis spends 10 months a year playing in Europe, although the pace of the season is a little different with typically only one game a week. Although Lewis would prefer a more compact playing season, he has enjoyed the ability to travel all over Europe and explore some of the cities and countries he finds himself in. But Lewis is not in Europe to be a tourist, but rather to improve his game in hopes of playing in the NBA with his former teammates.

“My game has improved a lot with my ball handling and decision making,” Lewis said. “I have had the opportunity since I've been in Europe to be able to be a combo guard, so I play the one and two positions. It has helped my game tremendously for Europe and also the NBA.”

Being away from his support circle is one of the harder things for Lewis as him and other American transplants deal with the situation of being abroad in hopes of catching the NBA’s eye.

“The biggest challenge I think for playing in Europe for an American is mindset and consistency and not losing focus,” Lewis said. “You can get lost quickly over in Europe because you are away from your family and friends for a long time. You can easily get off track and start having bad games and practices because of that. I try to keep myself motivated and ready for everything because you never know what’s going to happen.”

Staying Connected

To better connect with former teammates, fans, and his family and friends, Lewis launched RonLewisblog.com to share updates on his career overseas as well as share some insight on life abroad. The site is updated with stories, photos, video, and is an outlet for Lewis to help stay focused and connected with his support circle back in the states.

Lewis still finds himself very connected to Columbus and the Buckeye program as he lives in Columbus when not playing abroad. He spent the last two summers working out with the likes of Greg Oden, Mike Conley, Ivan Harris, and Terence Dials, and confesses to watching Buckeye games on his computer while overseas to stay in the loop.

While Lewis tries to will his way to a career in the NBA similar to his efforts of keeping the Buckeyes alive in the NCAA tournament, he can’t help but look back at his days in Columbus with great affection.

“It was a great experience leading a team that really didn't know much about college basketball,” Lewis said. “I enjoyed the experience and coach Matta let us enjoy it…. There's nothing like college basketball and the experiences you go through on the court and in the classroom. It was the most fun time of my life. I'm still having fun, but there's nothing like college.”

While Lewis reflects on some of the many lasting memories Ohio State had on him, it’s a safe bet that the opposite can be said in that Lewis left a lasting imprint on the Buckeye basketball program. A young team oozing with talent leaned heavily on Lewis when against the ropes. Lewis delivered multiple times over no matter the odds that were stacked against him and the Buckeyes in their incredible run.

Lewis now finds himself in a familiar position but in an unfamiliar continent. While it’s easy to dismiss his hoop dreams as misplaced optimism, Lewis has long thrived in the role of underdog with a storied history of overcoming long odds.