NATCHEZ — Natchez High School head basketball coach Mike Martin wants a point guard that will provide good consistent decision making for his Bulldog basketball team, he said.

Sometimes that player is difficult to find, but this season Martin has that point guard in senior Ryan Lewis.

Lewis not only excels with the ball in his hands but also excels in the classroom. He is an honor-roll student, holds a 3.6 GPA and was awarded with the recognition of Mr. Natchez High School this year.

“That was voted by the school, so I have to thank them for that,” Lewis said. “It was a big accomplishment. I feel liked at the school, and I try to give that back.”

Lewis is one of two captains on this year’s team, and he said it is his responsibility to lead the team on and off the floor.

“The point guard is the leader of the team,” he said. “It’s my job to lead them in the right direction, and I do that on the court and in the classroom by trying to set an example.

“As captain I try to keep the team together when things get out of order.”

Lewis said translating classroom smarts to the court is easy for him.

“They are like the same thing,” he said. “If you are smart in the classroom, people look for you to be smart on the court.”

Lewis said he considers himself to be a pass first point guard, who likes to get his teammates involved in the game. But, at times he knows when to take control, Martin said.

“He has penetration, playmaking ability and a good short jump shot,” Martin said. “He has worked on (that shot), and it won the Warren Central game for us at the buzzer. He ran the clock down and took the last shot, and he hit it.”

Martin said he was extremely happy for Lewis when he hit that shot.

“Every kid sits back and dreams about hitting a shot to win a game,” he said.

Lewis said he has always loved basketball because more than any other sport, it holds players accountable for their play.

“You just can’t hide in basketball,” he said. “In football you have a helmet, and people can’t see you. (In basketball) you have to play good, because you are out in the open.”

Lewis’ goals beyond basketball are to enroll at Texas Southern University, where is brother Paul Lewis is already a student, and major in athletic training and physical education, he said.

But before that, he said he has some lofty goals set for the Bulldog basketball team.

“I expect to get to South State and go deep in the playoffs and even win a championship,” he said.

Lewis said he thinks the Bulldogs (7-8) could accomplish those goals if they continue to improve.

“We’ve had ups and downs,” he said. “We are just trying to get solid with our execution.”