When it comes to their demeanor during a basketball game, Ben Stywall and Duane Lewis are nearly polar opposites.
And for Lewis, North Meck High's fiery head coach for the past 13 seasons, that's just fine.
"I'm over the top at times," Lewis recently self-described. "You've got to have people balance you out."
Stywall is now one of the assistant coaches tasked with doing just that. While Lewis is often animated, loud and emphatic, Stywall is more reserved, more in the mold of fellow Viking assistant Clark Camp. But now that the former Vikings' star has shifted into the role of coach for the first time, Stywall is finding his way in his new role, says Lewis, while at the same time benefitting the North Meck program.
"It's been a real pleasure," says Lewis. "You don't have a higher quality person than Ben Stywall. The school is blessed to have him back."
A 2005 North graduate, Stywall has completed his playing career, which took him to UNC-Greensboro and then across the ocean in the professional ranks. Along with assisting the coach he once played for, he is also the head coach of a junior varsity team that entered the holiday break 6-3. Stywall has been the kind of addition Lewis is proud to make — he's worn North's blue and red and won big as a Viking.
"He's a loyal kid," says Lewis. "He understands North Meck. He bleeds Viking blue. That's what we try to instill into our players."
Stywall says it's been beneficial to come back and see Viking practices from another viewpoint. He can imagine he and former teammates running the same drills, and his respect for Lewis has grown as he's coached with him the past two months.
"He's a very intense guy, very intense on the basketball court," says Stywall. "But he always has that side (where he jokes). It's an even balance. To me, it's what makes him a great coach. He's not one way all the time."
Ben there, done that
Stywall was an integral piece of the 2004-05 Viking team that went 31-1 and won the 4A state championship. A 6-foot-6 center, Stywall shot 60.8 percent from the floor and averaged 15.7 points, 10.8 rebounds and two blocks per game as a senior on a front line that included fellow star Jamie Skeen, the state's Mr. Basketball that year. Together, they made one another better and ran the high-post offense to Lewis' satisfaction, often taking advantage of double-teams that left one of them open for an easy layup or mid-range jumper.
"I had some great, great times at North Meck," says Stywall. "We put together some pretty good years."
The best time came in March of 2005 in the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, when North and a Fayetteville Westover team led by future NBA player Eric Maynor slugged it out in a tight game that couldn't be settled in regulation. Stywall had one of his best games at the most critical time, scoring a game-high 21 points in the 68-65 overtime victory and was named the West Region's Most Outstanding Player.
Stywall and then-junior Skeen helped the Vikings win by an average of 25 points entering the state championship, and along with five teammates, Stywall ended his prep career on top, something no other Viking boys' players had done in the school's 54 years, and a feat none have matched since.
It was a special time, says Stywall.
"In high school, it's people you grew up with," he says. "You're playing with your best friends. Nothing can beat that. That's something us guys will always share and will talk about all our lives."
Back then, Stywall and Skeen, both of whom now wear closely cropped haircuts, each had dreads that swished back and forth every time they attempted jump shots. Both cut their hair during college and have kept the short hair. Stywall doesn't see himself letting the hair grow out again.
"That's high school," he says. "I'm getting grown now."
To Greensboro and beyond
After high school and one year at Fork Union Military Academy, Stywall went on to become one of UNC-Greensboro's best-ever players, starting all four years and finishing in the program's career top 10 in multiple statistical categories, including 10th in points (1,245) and second in rebounds (961).
As a senior in 2009-10, Stywall led the Spartans by averaging 14.3 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, becoming the first Spartan to average a double-double and the first Southern Conference player to do so since 2000-01. He set a school record for double-doubles in a season (15) and also for rebounds in a season (323).
After earning his sociology degree, Stywall played professionally in Germany and Iceland, but after suffering a knee injury this past year, he has now had procedures on both knees and "things just aren't the same," he says.
But he still gets out and plays pickup games and demonstrates moves for his players in practice. Lewis says the young Vikings are learning what Stywall could — and still can — do on the court.
"They know," says Lewis. "I let them know all the time. He's one of the best players ever at North Meck."
Stywall is currently substitute teaching at North and is considering a career in education. Though his future is somewhat unclear beyond this year, he's glad to be back at North for the time being.
"I wouldn't want to have it any other way," he says.
