Lone Peak boy’s basketball coach Quincy Lewis has been honored as the Naismith Boy’s High School Coach of the Year by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

Lewis said he didn’t know he’d been nominated until Eric Oberman, executive director of the ATC, called him Monday morning.

“I’m truly humbled to even be thought of for an award like that,” Lewis said. “I was certainly surprised when I got the call. That’s something you don’t expect to happen.”

Lewis said the honor is a tribute to his program, not just to him.

“It’s a reflection of having kids who are really good players and guys who are coachable,” he said. “It’s also because I have good people around me with my staff who make me better.

“It comes of having parents who let me coach instead of worrying about playing time and other things that only concern their son,” Lewis continued. “And, having a wife who supports me being gone and the time I’m away in the summer can’t be undervalued.”

Beyond that, he said some of the credit goes to the athletic legacy he’s inherited. His father, Tim Lewis, has been recognized for coaching.

“Really, I’m just lucky to grow up in a home with a Hall of Fame coach. I learned a ton from him, and I worked with some really good college people as well.”

The award is presented by the same organization that sponsors the college player Naismith recognition, won by BYU standout Jimmer Fredette his senior season.

Lewis now joins a group of past honorees that includes such national legends as Bob Hurley Sr. of St. Anthony, N.J., Steve Smith of Oak Hill Academy, Va., and Kevin Boyle of St. Patrick, N.J.

He’s only the second coach of a public high school to receive this award.

The Knights are 21-1 and have been in the top 5 nationally during the season. They defeated West Jordan High School in the first round of the Utah state playoffs Monday and will play Davis in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

The award was announced in connection with the player of the year honor, which went to Andrew Wiggins of Huntington Prep in Huntington, W.V.

“The winners were selected by basketball journalists from around the country who form the Naismith Awards national high school voting academy,” Oberman said in a press release. “The selections were based on outstanding player and coach performances during the 2013 high school basketball season.

“The strong performances of Andrew and Quincy this season stood out for our voters among the thousands of players and coaches throughout the country. The two are very deserving of the Naismith Awards, demonstrating the talent and will to succeed that we’ve come to expect from past award winners.”

Rob Cuff, executive director of the Utah High School Activities Association and a highly successful former coach, agreed with Lewis that the honor represents the organization more than the individual.

“As a former coach, I know that a great award like this is much more likely when you have good players and good assistants,” Cuff said. “Just having a talented team doesn’t mean things go perfectly all the time.

“Quincy has been able to get his players to share the ball and play the right way,” he added. “They’re always prepared too. I’m really happy for him.”

His players were excited for Lewis as well.

“It’s pretty awesome,” senior center Eric Mika said. “He talked to us about it, about how honored he was. We feel like he deserved it.”

“That’s the greatest accomplishment ever,” senior guard Nick Emery added. “It’s one of the biggest awards there is. We’re really proud of him.”

The Lone Peak administration also knew nothing about Lewis being under consideration, but assistant principal Kenley Brown said it was appropriate.

“I can’t think of a more deserving guy,” Brown said. “He does great things with these kids. It’s nice to see him get the recognition he deserves.”

? Beky Beaton can be reached at bbeaton@heraldextra.com. Follow her on Twitter at @BeatonWrite.