Raymond Lewis to this day is considered by many as one of the greatest basketball players ever to come out of Los Angeles.
A basketball phenom of the early 1970s, Lewis was a two-time league MVP, a three-time California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) high school champion, a college scoring leader and a 1973 first-round draft choice of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Lewis signed a three-year guaranteed contract with the Sixers, yet because of his contract would never play one minute in the NBA. The Raymond Lewis saga is L.A.'s Best Kept Secret!
RAYMOND LEWIS: L.A. LEGEND COMING SOON!
Official Selection of the 2021 Pan African Film Festival
This film chronicles the life of Raymond Lewis a basketball phenom of the 1970s who today is still considered by many as one of the best basketball players to ever come out of Southern California.
Lewis, a two-time high school player-of-the-year led the Verbum Dei Eagles in Watts, CA to an 84-4 winning record while capturing three consecutive California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) championships in 1969, 1970, and 1971.
As a sophomore during the 1973 season at Cal State L.A., Lewis was the NCAA’s second-leading scorer in the nation averaging 32.9 points a game. His most memorable performance that year was his 53-point output to lead CSLA to a 107-103 win over 3rd-ranked Long Beach State, then coached by the legendary Jerry Tarkanian.
In the summer of 1973, the super-sophomore Lewis was selected as a first-round 18th pick by the Philadelphia 76ers.
Lewis who represented himself without an agent signed what he thought was a three-year $400,000 deal. However, in reality, it would have taken him decades to actually receive all the money and he would be required to make the Sixer roster each year.
That same year, Doug Collins also drafted by the Sixers as the NBA's overall number 1 pick signed a 5-year $200,000 contract, which made him one of the league’s first million-dollar players. By all accounts, Lewis dominated play over Collins in the team's rookie camp scrimmages, so much so, that local sportswriters began reporting Raymond Lewis's domination in the newspapers over Collins.
With all the press raving about Lewis's play, he then met with the Sixers GM in an effort to renegotiate his original contract for more money. When the 76ers refused, Lewis jumped to the ABA to play with the Utah Stars but was soon released when the Sixers threatened a lawsuit against the organization. He then tried to make an NBA team but by then, regardless of how well he played in summer pro league games, many felt that in the end, Raymond Lewis was simply being "blackballed" from the league.
Available March 2021
Apparel
T-SHIRTS AND HOODIES
Redesigned Raymond Lewis Classic, Signature and Phantom Phenom apparel is now available online for purchase. All designs come in short-sleeve, Long-sleeve and hoodies which are also available in multiple colors.
CLICK HERE! to be taken to our Raymond Lewis online merchandise store and make your purchase TODAY!
OFFICAL FILM TRAILER
RAYMOND LEWIS BASKETBALL STATS:
Won three consecutive
California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) basketball titles in 1969, 1970 and 1971. Lewis led the Verbum Dei Eagles to an 84-4 winning record.
Bombed a group of LA Lakers for 52 points in a summer league game while still in high school.
Named CIF Player of the Year in '70 and '71. Only the second person at that time in CIF history to receive such an honor.
Received 250 college basketball scholarship offers before settling on Cal State Los Angeles.
Scored 73 points against UC Santa Barbara as a college freshman, hitting 30 of 40 FG's and 13 FT's.
(75% Field Goal Percentage)
Scored a combined 123 points in two Cal State L.A. weekend preliminary games making 52 of 84 shots (62% FGP) and 19 free throws.
(Games were played before the insertion of the 3-point shot!)
As a CSLA Freshman in 1972, Lewis Averaged 38.9 points per game and hit nearly 60 percent of his shots. (an incredible feat for a guard who rarely shot inside of 20 feet.)
1973, as a sophomore Lewis scored 53 points in an upset win (107-104) against number three-ranked 22-1 Long Beach State, in an electrifying double overtime thriller.
Lewis' top scoring games at Cal State L.A. during his frosh and sophomore season. 73, 53, 51, 50, 46, 43, 40
LEWIS (53) RIPS 49ERS IN 2 OTs -- LEWIS SCORES 73 POINTS TO BREAK OWN FROSH MARK -- CSLA, WAVES REACH FINALS; LEWIS HITS 46 -- LEWIS (32) LEADS DIABLOS PAST FULLERTON ST., 74-54 -- LEWIS SCORES 56 ON NBA DEFENSIVE STOPPER COOPER -- RAYMOND LEWIS WANTS ONE MORE SHOT SCORES 67 IN PRO LEAGUE GAME.
Averaged 32.9 points per game during his sophomore year at CSLA and was the NCAA's second leading scorer.
The youngest Player ever drafted and signed by the NBA during his era. The 18th overall pick in the first round by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1973.
Reportedly scored 60 points in the first half against the NBA's number 1 draft choice Doug Collins in Sixers NBA camp.
Sports Illustrated ran a 10-page article on Lewis in its Oct. 16, 1978 edition.
Averaged 54 points per contest in the 1981 highly-regarded summer pro league games which featured many NBA players.
Scored 67 points in the 1983
summer pro league game with the San Antonio Spurs.
Scored 56 points in 1983 against NBA's defensive star Michael Cooper in summer pro league game in only three quarters of play.
Played 30 top street ballers on the same day and won all 30 games.
2004, jersey number 23 retired as Lewis is honored as the greatest player in Verbum Dei history.
2019, Lewis still holds at least 12 basketball records at Cal State L.A.
Considered the best basketball player to ever come out of Southern California.
LEWIS FEATURED IN SEVERAL BASKETBALL NOVELS AND MAGAZINES!
A subject of numerous basketball articles in Sports Illustrated, Slam, Bounce and Reverse magazines, as well as, the book Runnin' Rebel and many Los Angeles Times newspaper articles. Raymond Lewis is still considered by many to be one of the greatest basketball players that ever lived.
But don't just take our word for it... view our website of Lewis' well-documented accomplishments, read our testimonials then judge for yourself!
RAYMOND LEWIS DOCUMENTARY FILM INTERVIEWS
FILM PROJECT COMPLETED!
Former NBA players, college coaches and teammates participate in the Lewis documentary film! (Click here to see full page!)
LEWIS FILM INTERVIEWS AND FILM CREW:
5-time NBA champion and former Laker Michael Cooper, former Two-time NBA All-Star Reggie Theus, Film crew Ryan, Travis and Dean, former Verbum Dei player Dwight Slaughter, former Philadelphia 76ers head coach Gene Shue, former Golden State Warrior and current Pepperdine head basketball coach Lorenzo Romar, former Verbum Dei player Michael Pyles, former Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, former Verbum Dei Player Eddie Williams, former NCAA Player and coach Billy Jones, legendary NCAA basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, former Verbum Dei player Adrian Chivers, former Verbum Dei player Randy Echols, former Cal State L.A. basketball coach Bob Miller, renowned sociologist Dr. Harry Edwards, Kamilah Lewis, Dr. Anthony Samad, Senator Bradford, former ABA/NBA player Mack Calvin, former L.A. State / Chino Hills coach Mel Sims, co-producer Dean Prator, former Sixer and Orlando Magic general manager Pat Williams, Lewis' first cousin George Simpson, Lewis childhood friend Gregory Williams, former NBA Clipper Freeman Williams, 1973 Philadelphia 76er draft pick Darryl Minniefield, film maker Ryan Polomski, Jay Young, Wali Jones and Rod Freeman
RAYMOND LEWIS 2020 DOCUMENTARY FILM INTERVIEWS
The Raymond Lewis documentary is once again rolling full stream ahead after a long hiatus due to the lack of funding to get this project finished. Through a maze of mishaps and misfortune we set out to unravel this cautionary tale of a L.A. basketball phenom who was a sure thing, a can't miss NBA talent that did indeed miss. By years end we'll be able to tell Raymond's story to both those who knew of this great basketball talent but never knew his story or what had happened to him.
The documentary film will also allow us to introduce Raymond Lewis to a whole new generation who have never heard of him or knew he existed as a Southern California basketball legend. The Raymond Lewis saga is "Basketballs Best Kept Secret."
Below are the most recent individuals that we have interviewed in 2020.
The most recent participants for the Raymond Lewis documentary film are...Kamilah Lewis-Kent Lewis' daughter, Former ABA/NBA standout Mack Calvin, Former L.A. State / Chino Hills high basketball coach Mel Sims, Executive Director at Cal State Dominguez Hills Dr. Anthony Samad, Senator Steven Bradford along with the Raymond Lewis film crew, Ryan Polomski, Travis Auclair and Dean Prator, Lewis' childhood friend Gregory Williams, former NBA Clipper Freeman Williams, Lewis' first cousin George Simpson, former 76er and Orlando Magic general manager Pat Williams and 1973 Philadelphia 76er draft pick Darryl Minniefield.
 Kamilah and Ryan in front of her grandfather's Rufus Lewis' home in Compton, CA. |  Kamilah interview in Long Beach CA |  Ryan filming Kamilah at father's grave site at Inglewood cemetery. |
|---|---|---|
 Ryan filming the former home of Rufus Lewis, Raymond's father in Compton CA. |  Dean and Kamilah at Raymond Lewis' grave site during film interview. |  Former ABA/NBA player Mack Calvin talks about his epic game battles against Raymond Lewis. |
 Former ABA/NBA standout Mack Calvin at the Raymond Lewis film shoot. |  Travis filming Mack Calvin for the Raymond Lewis documentary. |  Former L.A. State / Chino Hills Hall-of-Fame basketball coach Mel Sims shows off a first-full of Chino Hills high championship rings during the Raymond Lewis film shoot. Sims was also Raymond's freshman basketball coach at then L.A. State. |
 Mel Sims interviews for the Raymond Lewis documentary film. He coached Lewis as a freshman at L.A. State, now Cal State L.A. |  Ryan Polomski interviewing Mel Sims Lewis' freshman coach at L.A. State/ Cal State L.A. in 1971. |  Ryan interviewing Mel Sims Lewis' freshman coach at L.A. State/ Cal State L.A. in 1971. |
 Executive Director of the Mervyn Dymally African American Political and Economic Institute (MDAAPEI) on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills on set for the Raymond Lewis documentary film. |  Executive Director of the Mervyn Dymally African American Political and Economic Institute (MDAAPEI) on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills on set for the Raymond Lewis documentary film. |  Ryan and Travis on set at Cal State Dominguez Hills interviewing Dr. Anthony Samad for the Raymond Lewis documentary film project. |
 Co-Author of Senate Bill 206 "The Fair Pay to Play Act" Senator Steven Bradford interviews for the Raymond Lewis film project. |  Co-Author of Senate Bill 206 "The Fair Pay to Play Act" Senator Steven Bradford interviews for the Raymond Lewis film project. |  Ryan and Travis interviewing Senator Steve Bradford for the Raymond Lewis documentary film. |
 Dean Prator taking a much-needed break during the Raymond Lewis film shoot. |  Dean Prator checks camera during film shoot for the Raymond Lewis documentary project. |  Gregory Williams in Watts CA at the 109th Street Recreation Center. |
 Gregory Williams on set at the 109th Street Recreation Center in Watts, CA |  Freeman Williams on film set at the 109th Street Recreation Center in Watts, CA. |  George Simpson at the 109th Street Recreation Center in Watts, CA. |
 George Simpson on Set in Watts, CA |  Dean Prator Co-Producer of the Raymond Lewis documentary film. |  Ernest Killum Community Center. 109th Street Recreation Center in Watts, CA |
 Film Director and co-producer of the Raymond Lewis documentary film Ryan Polomski. |  Former NBA Philadelphia 76er and Orlando Magic General Manager Pat Williams interviewing for the Raymond Lewis documentary film. |  1973 Philadelphia 76er draft pick Darryl Minniefield interviews for the Raymond Lewis documentary film. |
RAYMOND LEWIS: L.A. LEGEND
OFFICIAL TRAILER
Lorenzo's Story
Former NBA Golden State Warrior and head basketball coach of the Washington Husky's, Lorenzo talks about the hypothetical one-on-one matchup between Raymond Lewis and Michael Jordan in the documentary film.
LEWIS SCORES 73-POINTS ON UC SANTA BARBARA
Billy Jones sat down with us to vividly recount the 1972 spring conference game matchup between his talented U.C. Santa Barbara basketball team when they faced L.A. State, now Cal State L.A. led by Raymond Lewis.
Jones was the freshman basketball coach at U.C. Santa Barbara at a time when freshmen were not allowed to play varsity ball until their sophomore year. However, in that game, Raymond Lewis would go on to put on one of the greatest shooting exhibitions in basketball history when he touched the Gauchos for 73-points while making a blistering 30 of 40 field goals and 13 free throws shooting an unheard of 75% from the field.
What's even more remarkable about Lewis' 73-points is the fact that the three-point shot had not yet been implemented into the game of basketball at the high school, college or NBA levels.
During the 1971-72 college year, Lewis would go on to lead all freshman scorers averaging 38.9 points a game while shooting 58.9 percent from the field. An incredible feat for a guard that rarely shot inside of twenty feet. North Carolina State and NBA Hall-of-Famer David Thompson was second.
DR. HARRY EDWARDS
Dr. Harry Edwards, Professor Emeritus of Sociologist at the University of California, Berkeley sat down with us to talk about turbulent times of the 1960s during the civil rights era which led many high-profile professional Black athletes to seek social change and recognition through their respective sport.
He also talked about Raymond Lewis whom he had known of since Lewis' college days at Cal State L.A. while psychoanalyzing several determining factors in which he felt caused Lewis to leave the Sixer camp in an effort to chase a dream and get rewarded with what he thought he was worth.
Furthermore... Dr. Edwards rendered his professional advice to the youth of today if somehow they found themselves in a similar situation and what he would have suggested to a young Raymond Lewis back in 1973 after he already signed a contract with the 76ers.
DOCUMENTARY FILM MAKERS
Lewis documentary film makers Ryan Polomski and Dean Prator
Director/Producer Ryan Polomski (MFA University of Texas) has over ten years of production experience and has produced and edited hundreds of projects for film and television. His directorial debut was the award-winning feature "State vs. Reed", which premiered at SXSW and was broadcast on PBS.
Co-Producer Dean Prator who grew up in Compton attended Dominguez high school in 1971, began resurrecting the story of Lewis in 2005, when he created the website raymondlewis.com to introduce the basketball legend to a new generation of Southern California ballers in L.A. and basketball fans around the world.
In late 2013, Dean and Ryan joined forces and have since put in a tremendous amount of time, money, and effort into getting the Raymond Lewis documentary to this point.
Years of painstaking research resulted in the recent discovery of rare archival footage (once feared lost) showing Raymond during his playing days. Now the research and development phase is finally complete, and production is halfway there!
The time is now to finish this unique and historical documentary, and with your help, we will make it happen!