Who is Thomas (Tommy) Lewis from The Glory Field and what is their importance?

Tommy Lewis enters the narrative at the age of seventeen. Tommy is an excellent student and a star player for the Curry Cougars. Tommy dreams of playing college basketball for Johnson City State College. Tommy is the son of Robert Smalls (Planter) Lewis and Virginia (Bates) Lewis. Tommy is an only child. Tommy's grandparents are Abby Lewis and Mary (Hardin) Lewis. Moses and Saran are Tommy's great-great-grandparents.