Did someone say, “BOOM!?”

Well, Mark Pope and his staff just did, as 4-star point guard Acaden Lewis announced his commitment to the Kentucky Wildcats.

Lewis made the announcement at a Saturday ceremony that was streamed by On3.

Lewis, a 6-foot-2, 170-pound guard from Washington, D.C., chose Kentucky over Duke and UConn, solidifying an impressive backcourt with 5-star combo guard Jasper Johnson. It came as no surprise that Lewis chose Kentucky over the other two schools, as the Cats were widely viewed as the heavy favorite coming into this one.

Over the summer, many schools took notice of Lewis’ game at the NBPA Top 100 camp, and that is when his recruitment started to take off. Lewis, at one point, went from being ranked No. 78 to No. 34 overall, according to 247 Sports. Lewis averaged 15.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists for Team Durant on the Nike EYBL circuit, making it easy for all of the blue-blood schools to take a long look at the guard.

At this time, Lewis is ranked No. 32 nationally and the No. 5 overall point guard in the Class of 2025, according to 247 Sports. As for what other recruiting databases have Lewis ranked:

• On3: No. 55 overall and the No. 8 overall point guard
• ESPN: No. 28 overall and the No. 7 overall point guard
• Rivals: No. 20 overall player and the No. 7 overall point guard

Scouting Report

As for Lewis’ game, he excels in both playmaking and scoring, which will make him a great fit alongside Johnson. Not only that, but Lewis also has a strong handle, which allows him to navigate tight defenses and set up plays effectively, making him a valuable facilitator in any offense.

Lewis also brings an impressive shooting ability, particularly from mid-range and beyond the arc, keeping defenders on their toes. As a slasher, he can get to the basket with ease, showing both finesse and strength in finishing.

Defensively, Lewis stands out for his quick lateral movement, strong anticipation, and commitment to staying in front of his man. His quick reflexes allow him to generate steals by reading passing lanes and challenging drives effectively.

Simply put, Lewis is a perfect fit for Mark Pope’s offense, which is why the new UK coach made Lewis such a priority since the summer.

Kentucky has a commitment from 4-star center Malachi Moreno, which is the only player in the frontcourt for Kentucky. That could easily change in the future with some experts saying that Kentucky is currently the frontrunner for 5-star power forward Caleb Wilson. If Kentucky can continue recruiting like this under Pope, the sky is the limit for the Cats.

The Wildcats already having three players committed before the season starts on Monday shows how passionate Pope and his staff are about continuing to recruit at an elite level.

With the early National Signing Day set to happen from November 13-20, you can expect the three players to sign the dotted line and become officially Wildcats. They will be a part of the first signed class for Pope at Kentucky.

Highlights

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