Maryland Record Breakers: Cedric & Derrick Lewis

When it comes to brothers Derrick (1984-88) and Cedric (1987-91) Lewis’ respective basketball careers at the University of Maryland, there are three simple truths:

1. The Lewis brothers are the greatest shot blockers in program history.
2. The Lewis brothers’ seven collective seasons spanned three significant eras under head coaches Lefty Driesell, Bob Wade, and Gary Williams
3. The Lewis brothers still disagree about who was the better shot blocker.

Said Cedric on the Hear the Turtle podcast: “I had the chance to watch Derrick and kind of perfected it after he left, so I’m going to say that I’m the better shot blocker!”

Derrick responded: “I would agree, but only as of three or four years ago when I started slowing down!”

The fact of the matter is that an argument could be made for both as the best shot-blocker in program history.

To this day, Derrick holds the career blocked shots record (339), nearly 100 more than the next closest on the list. On the flip side, Cedric owns the single-season blocks record, smashing Derrick’s record (117) with an astonishing 143 (5.1/g) in 1990-91.

OK, then what about single-game blocks? Derrick re-wrote the record books with five games of 10+ blocks, including a record 12 against James Madison in 1987. But Cedric tied the record five years later with 12 blocks of his own against South Florida.

You see where we are going with this? So, let’s celebrate the achievements of both.

Chronologically, it's appropriate to start with perhaps the greatest single-game performance to that point in Maryland history, when Derrick turned in the program’s first-ever triple-double.

The sensational night came on Jan. 28, 1987 at James Madison, where a particularly rambunctious crowd was eager to jeer the Terrapins following the tragic loss of Len Bias. Sally Jenkins from the Washington Post described the scene in the arena as a “fraternity house.”

“Their players and fans were talking so much trash, so I was a little heated under the collar and said there was no way we were going to lose that game,” Derrick said. “That was all the motivation I needed.”

His final stat line: 29 points. 23 rebounds. 12 blocks. (And a 90-76 victory).

For Derrick, it was about much more than his stat line. It was about reminding people who Maryland is and its intention of not going anywhere.

“A lot of people saw us as a punching bag that year because of all the stuff we had gone through the previous year,” Derrick said. “I’m still irritated about that game, after all these years.”

Derrick would go on to record his second career triple-double (32pts/10rebs/10blks) against UMBC three weeks later. To this day, there have been only three triple-doubles recorded in program history: Derrick (2x) and Greivis Vasquez against UNC (2/21/09).

Coincidentally, Cedric had a ton of underlying motivation on the night of his 12-block game, though his was a bit different. The Terps walked into an arena in which USF had won 15 straight games and found themselves trailing big at halftime.

Cedric recalled a loss to Coppin State the previous season in which first-year head coach Gary Williams followed with a practice that was “not fun.” In fact, the practice featured no basketballs and all running.

For Cedric and the Terps, rallying to defeat USF was a matter of self-preservation as they knew a practice similar to the Coppin State aftermath would be in their future.

“I had never had this happen to me before - Gary didn’t even talk to us at halftime in the locker room,” Cedric recalled. “Following that half I was determined to not let anybody score.”

Williams employed a full-court press the entire second half as the Terps rallied for an 87-81 victory that he would call one of the greatest comebacks he had been a part of in his postgame comments.

Of course, Cedric didn’t realize until after the game he had tied his brother Derrick’s record, and Derrick did not find out about the performance for some time as he was playing professionally in Europe.

On the matter of which record will fall first, there are certainly differing opinions.

“I would say single-season blocks,” Derrick said. To which Cedric immediately interjected with, “I don’t see it!” and laughs ensued.

“I will say this, I was so happy to see Joe Smith and Stix leave [early],” Derrick said with a smile. “But that’s why I say single-season because these guys leave school early now. They aren’t going to stick around long enough to set a career record, so Ced’s got to do more sweating than I do!”

As for the future of the Lewis family at Maryland, the legacy is in great hands as Cedric’s  daughter, Cara, is currently a sophomore on the Maryland volleyball team.

Cara’s position: middle blocker. How fitting.