A junior high English teacher in Butler and a high school basketball coach at Deer Lakes, Joe Lewandowski has stepped up his game.

Big time.

The former Golden Tornado boys hoop coach is spending much of his summer as head coach of the United States’ men’s and women’s 3X3 national basketball teams.

“It was a huge opportunity presented to me and I jumped on it,” Lewandowski said.

Lewandowski has coached AAU national championship teams and has coached basketball overseas in past years. During his work in developing young AAU talent, he developed a working relationship with former NBA coach John Lucas, who does extensive work with USA Basketball.

“We developed a connection over the years and I guess my name got out there,” Lewandowski said of being offered this post.

Earlier this month, Lewandowski was at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, working with fellow committee members Travis Johnson (USA 3X3 program director) and Washington Wizards Vice-President of Player Personnel Milt Newton in selecting the teams.

They watched 12 teams of four players each compete in men’s and women’s tournaments. Each tourney had one team complete the competitions undefeated.

Lewandowski said the committee had the option of breaking teams up and piecing together the USA’s final four-person squads. But they decided to keep the winning teams intact.

“We thought it was important to let them maintain that continuity together,” Lewandowski said. “These games are so quick and fast-paced. Teamwork is critical.”

The men’s team consists of Adetayo Adesanya of Naperville, Ill., Ira Brown of Corsicana, Texas, Tyree Hardge of Surprise, Ariz., and Allen Dubois Williams of Tempe, Ariz.

The women’s quartet includes Skylar Diggins (Notre Dame), Brian Hartley (Connecticut), Chiney Ogwumike (Stanford) and Alyssa Thomas (Maryland).

“Those four men are extremely quick and athletic, and they play physical,” Lewandowski said. “They dig in and play defense. In 3 on 3, you can’t have a weak defender and you have to be able to slide over, adjust, and play every position.

“The women will all be first round WNBA draft picks. They are four of the best women’s basketball players in the country. Their talent level is incredible.”

Rules for 3X3 basketball include 10-minute time limits, half-court play, a 12-second shot clock and the first team to score 21 points wins. The traditional two-point field goal is worth one point, the 3-pointer is worth two.

“So much of the game is live-ball action,” Lewandowski said. “You have to have set plays to run in dead-ball situations because there are so few of them.

“Most of the coaching is in preparation. Like most sports, it’s all about the players once the game begins. Everyone is constantly moving.”

Lewandowski and the players will return to Colorado Springs for a training camp Aug. 17-20. They will travel to Athens, Greece, for the FIBA 3X3 World Championships Aug. 23-26.

There will be 24 countries competing in the world tourney.

“There’s a movement going on to make this an Olympic sport for 2016,” Lewandowski said. “That’s what this is all about.”

And when you are at the Olympic Training Center, it’s all about winning.

“That’s pretty clear when you’re there,” Lewandowski said. “The No. 1 objective is to get that gold medal.

“While I was there recently, Michael Phelps was training there, the gymnastics team was coming in, there’s an intense feel to everything around you.

“Just knowing you’re representing your country in a competition ... So few people ever get to do that. It’s a privilege and an honor and that’s how I’m treating this whole experience.”