. . . take them to the NCAA tournament, All-American status, college graduation and foreign countries. !!!

Greg Lewis dunks on a Fast Break AND draws the foul at the State Championship
 for Medina First Baptist Christian School

In 1996, Greg had finished four years of high school, had been eligible for only two years of actual athletic competition and was still a full year away from graduating.  He had no interest in attending a junior college away from home, attending a prep school in another state, or just merely attend Akron East HS for another year and graduate.  He was looking for the benefits of a prep school with the opportunity to stay near home.  He was asking for a miracle.

The only option John Saucier and TEAM JAM had left, seemed like an even more unrealistic proposal.  teamed with Medina First Baptist Christian school to witness the radical transformation of two Akron TEAM JAM youth, Greg Lewis and Scott Stewart.  Both had finished their senior years of high school without graduating, not knowing how they ever would, and looking for direction in their lives.  Both had a number of personal struggles to overcome.

But during that 1996-7 school year, these two young men attended a fifth year of high school at this tiny Christian school in order to earn their diploma.  Their success required overnights at the homes of stranger and new friends, tutoring, meals, transportation, job searches, and clothing for the school dress code.  They adjusted to a suburb community, Christian school expectations, and stricter discipline.

As basketball season was starting, the school found themselves without a coach.  Rich Dauer, the girls basketball coach at the school and John Saucier were asked to fill in during this emergency.  Rich is the third base coach of the Kansas City Royals and a former major league baseball great with the Baltimore Orioles in the 1970's and 80's.

There were a great many people involved during that year to make it possible for these two young men to succeed.  Their cumulative effort will serve as an example and reminder for the future as to just how much Christ wants us to to accomplish and sacrifice to serve and minister to others.   The people of the church rallied together to meet the needs these young men, which included developing a scholarship fund for tuition, raising money for the transportation costs of their four hour round trip on city transportation.  (That's right!!!, four hour round trip!!)  Providing lunches and dinners throughout the year because they didn't have a free lunch program like the public schools and special spiritual tutoring for the Bible Classes.  These young men were provided every opportunity to succeed.


         Greg speaks to the audience after receiving his diploma at graduation

Ultimately, succeed they did!!!   Both graduated.  Tony Johnson,  a teammate of theirs and classmate at Medina First Baptist, was also motivated by them to finish his degree requirements.  Greg's report card was a cumulative 2.9 grade point average and Scott's was a little over a 3.0.  

Greg came to know Christ as his Savior in March.  Scott's personal life made a radical turn around.  Their overall development translated into more success on the basketball court where their team won the state championship and they were the outstanding players on their team.  Greg was even named the Medina County MVP at the County All-Star game.

Greg signs his letter of intent to Seward County Community College in Kansas

At the close of the school year, Greg received a scholarship to attend Seward County Community College in Kansas, who eventually finished third in the country.  Scott received a scholarship to play basketball at Gannon University in Pennsylvania.  

Greg has since gone on to play at Winthrop University, even excelling in NCAA tournament in 2000, scoring 21 points against the University of Oklahoma.   He also was named the MVP of their conference tournament that was televised nationally on ESPN television.

Scott has since finished a year of college at Gannon U. and is presently living in Akron.  Like Greg, Scott has a tremendous personality and could be a great influence for Christ in the community.  TEAM JAM continues to invest in these young men so that one day, they may also have a story like this to tell . . . one that describes how they too rescued a young person.