Day 2 of the Below Armour Elite 24 wrapped up on Friday, with a number of the high highschool and worldwide basketball gamers competing in opposition to one another in a scrimmage in entrance of a handful of NBA scouts.
Whereas the principle occasion of the three-day showcase is the nationally televised sport on Saturday, Friday nonetheless supplied a worthwhile outlook into a number of the high expertise across the nation, with 2025 four-star guard Acaden Lewis standing out together with his array of abilities.
Lewis, a 6’2”, 180-pound guard from Sidwell Pals Faculty in Washington, D.C. is the top-rated gamers from D.C. within the Class of 2025.
Working in opposition to some five-star competitors, in addition to a bevy of proficient four-star guards in each the 2025 and 2026 lessons, Lewis proved himself, starting with the person drills throughout apply on Thursday.
Showcasing a pleasant taking pictures contact throughout three-point drills, Lewis carried over his efficiency to Friday’s scrimmage, the place he labored each on and off the ball, flashing with a superb deal with, catch-and-shoot capacity, playmaking instincts, and defensive tenacity.
Professional Perception Participant Highlight
Acaden Lewis
2025
#uanext Elite 24 apply
Mature, poised participant who didn’t falter one bit enjoying in entrance of an assortment of NBA scouts. Seemed the a part of a defensive stalwart on and off the ball. Offensively, his capacity to… pic.twitter.com/OC5blefqi5
— Professional Perception (@_proinsight) August 9, 2024
“I really feel prefer it’s only a really feel,” Lewis mentioned about balancing his scoring and facilitating. “At all times attempt to get the bigs concerned early as a result of, you realize, get them morale. You want them to rebound, set screens and stuff like that, so all the time attempt to get my bigs concerned. The wings and the guards, they type of contain themselves, they get some buckets right here and there so that you don’t must do as a lot with them. So all the time attempt to get my huge guys concerned. After which as soon as I get right into a rhythm, it’s often fairly seamless. I simply attempt to make the perfect learn I can.”
I believe utilizing my fame, folks see me as a scorer. They know I can get downhill, they know I can shoot. So, I exploit that. Individuals shut out on me exhausting. Persons are making an attempt to blitz me and stuff like that. So being manipulative with ball screens and stuff is often my go to as a result of it permits me to get different folks concerned.”
Along with his dimension, Lewis could also be requested to play extra level guard on the subsequent degree, though folks view him extra as a combo guard, given his scoring talents.
Whereas he’s seemed to show that he will be an efficient participant on the one this summer time, Lewis acknowledged the positionless model of basketball that has taken over these days, particularly within the NBA.
“I’ve been blessed to go to some camps this summer time, like some actually high-level ones, similar to CP3 and stuff like that. So each time I am going, you realize, I simply wish to show that I’m probably the greatest gamers within the nation [and] probably the greatest level guards within the nation,” Lewis mentioned.
“Lots of people assume I’m a combo [guard] and, you realize, to be trustworthy, it doesn’t actually matter within the NBA. It’s plenty of combo guards. Curry performs extra off ball than ball. I simply wish to show that I can play with elite gamers. That’s one other factor that, over there, the NBA scouts actually worth, you realize. Trigger I could also be on a group with LeBron, so I’ll gotta play off-ball slightly extra.”
Now getting into his senior yr, Lewis is beginning to lower down his checklist of high faculties, with a plan to disclose his official go to schedule inside the subsequent week or two.
The guard lately visited Duke this week previous to attending the Below Armour’s Subsequent Elite 24, with a visit to Syracuse coming earlier than that final week.
General, with a ton of latest curiosity from top-tier faculties, in addition to standing out at a number of camps, it’s been a busy summer time for the D.C. native, who has lofty targets for his senior season as he continues to climb up the recruiting rating.
“This yr, [I’m looking to] set myself up for a place within the McDonald’s All-American sport,” Lewis shared. “I’m proper there on the cusp. You realize, I’ve jumped plenty of spots on each service, and so they’re nonetheless updating. So camps like this are simply one other solution to present my worth, present that I’m up there with essentially the most elite.”
Lewis will look to cap off a profitable weekend with a superb displaying within the nationally televised Elite 24 sport on Saturday, which ideas off on ESPNU at 8 p.m. ET.
After that, it’s off to the races for his senior season, the place he’ll look to proceed gaining nationwide acclaim as he’s executed all summer time lengthy.
