The most popular language in Bolivia is Spanish, which Selma’s Wendell Lewis doesn’t speak fluently. Luckily for Lewis, the language of basketball translates pretty well.

Lewis starred at Selma High School during his prep career and was a highly touted recruit. He eventually signed with Mississippi State, where he played three years before transferring to Alabama State to finish out his career.

Now he’s playing professionally for a team in Santa Cruz, Bolivia and although there’s a language barrier, he’s catching on pretty quick.

“When it came to the basketball, I could understand what [coach] was saying and what he was trying to do, so I caught on to that,” Lewis said. “Everything outside of basketball is hard for me to understand. “

Luckily basketball, and not translating, is what he’s getting paid to do.

He’s also had to make an adjustment on the basketball floor too, as he adjusts to the overseas game. Lewis has always been known for inside scoring and rebounding — he averaged 10 points and 5 rebounds per game during his senior year at Alabama State — but he’s had to make a big adjustment overseas, where the game is played more wide open and shooting is the name of the game.

Lewis took only one three-pointer during his season with the Hornets, but now he’s being asked to shoot a lot more from the outside.

“When I was overseas, they made me play on the wing. The majority over there is nothing but guards and everybody can shoot,” he said. “Most of the time every day when I work out, and I work out twice a day, I put up 500 shots and work on my ball handling, so from college to overseas my outside game has improved a lot.”

He recently finished his first season in Bolivia and will return for a second season Aug. 21, which he said will last until early November. Lewis said his team lost in the league’s semifinals and that he finished ninth in scoring.

He said he’s spending his offseason time trying to learn Spanish, but the language barrier hasn’t stopped him from enjoying life in Bolivia.

“Right now I like it over there. I like playing overseas. I like seeing new things and trying new foods and all types of things,” Lewis said. “I’m enjoying the overseas life.”

He said his parents ask him from time to time if he wants to try his hand at playing basketball in the NBA. Right now, he’s pretty content in Bolivia.

“With me, I don’t really care too much about the NBA,” Lewis said. “I’m not big on it. I like the overseas life.”

Lewis led Selma to a 21-11 record during his senior season in high school and averaged 16.5 points per game and 11.2 rebounds.

He then signed with Mississippi State, where he battled injuries.

After receiving a medical redshirt for his senior year in Starkville, he was dismissed from the Bulldogs due to conduct detrimental to the team.

He transferred to ASU and had his best collegiate year statistically.