Acaden Lewis Recruiting Battle: Villanova Leads Over St. John’s & Georgetown After Late Push

Acaden Lewis, a 6’2″ point guard from Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C., has reopened his recruitment after decommitting from Kentucky. Ranked No. 5 among point guards and No. 30 overall in the 2025 class, Lewis originally committed to Kentucky in November 2024 over Duke, North Carolina, and UConn.

That changed after the Wildcats added transfer point guard Jaland Lowe this spring, raising questions about Lewis’s future role. He announced his decommitment on April 10, saying he needed to make the best decision for his future. The question now turns to where he will land.

Why Did Acaden Lewis Decommit From Kentucky?

When taking a look at how Lewis’ top schools handled the transfer portal, it’s no surprise that he decided to reopen his recruitment.

At Kentucky, Lewis’ previous top choice, Mark Pope added Pittsburgh point guard Jaland Lowe in the portal, which could have contributed to Lewis’s departure.

Looking at Lewis’s original top-four schools, none of the other three programs are clean fits. North Carolina added Colorado State guard Kyan Lewis in the transfer portal, making the Tar Heels a less appealing option. Duke hasn’t added any big name backcourt players, but their combination of heralded freshmen and returning players could muddy the rotation for Lewis.

The Huskies were Lewis’s original top choice, and it could make sense for him to join Dan Hurley’s squad. They could use another dynamic guard creator and Lewis would thrive in Hurley’s motion offense. However, UConn added two guards in the transfer portal — Georgia’s Silas Demary Jr. and Dayton’s Malachi Smith — who could have blocked Lewis’s path to minutes.

Villanova Making Late Push Under Kevin Willard

Lewis is scheduled to meet with Villanova, which has emerged as a top option since replacing coach Kyle Neptune.

The Wildcats haven’t landed a recruit of Lewis’s caliber since Cam Whitmore in 2022.

New head coach Kevin Willard will certainly push his chips in for Lewis, who he offered a scholarship to while at Maryland in 2023. The new Wildcats head coach has ties to the DMV area from his time at Maryland and is still looking to land his first marquee recruit since taking over the program.

At Villanova, Lewis wouldn’t have many blocks to playing time and on-ball reps, which could spearhead his development. Villanova will lose all five of its starters from last season and the Wildcats haven’t been overly active in the transfer portal, which could make landing Lewis even more important for Willard and his staff.

Villanova makes a lot of sense for the Washington D.C. native, who actually attended the same high school (Sidwell Friends) as alum Josh Hart and Saddiq Bey.

St. John’s Joins List After Recent Visit

After losing NBA hopeful RJ Luis Jr. to the transfer portal, the Red Storm have been looking to reload their roster and they’ve already nabbed two of the top transfers in the country. Bryce Hopkins and Joson Sanon give head coach Rick Pitino a formidable one-two punch but there’s still a glaring hole at the point guard spot.

Seniors Deivon Smith and Kadary Richmond have graduated, leaving St. John’s without its top two initiators on offense. Though other schools might be able to offer more money, playing under head coach Rick Pitino in a pro-style offense with enough firepower to make a deep NCAA Tournament run could move the needle for Lewis, who would slot in as the starting point guard from Day 1.

Georgetown Basketball Has Ties To Acaden Lewis

Georgetown has quickly re-emerged as a major contender. Lewis attends high school in D.C., and staying close to home could be a key factor. He is close friends with Georgetown SF Caleb Williams.

The Hoyas also offer a clear path to immediate playing time. Their current backcourt lacks depth, and Lewis could start or play major minutes as a freshman.

Being in a large media market like Washington gives him added NIL potential. Georgetown’s academic profile may also appeal to him and his family.

UNC in Need of Guards, Could Land Acaden Lewis

North Carolina has been in the mix for months. The Tar Heels offered Lewis in June 2024 and brought him to Chapel Hill for an official visit in October. Their coaching staff has maintained contact and built trust.

With RJ Davis heading to the NBA and Elliot Cadeau heading to Michigan, Lewis would have a chance to compete for a big role right away. UNC’s national profile and proven guard development track record make it one of the most attractive options on the table.

Acaden Lewis Scouting Report

• Position: Point guard
• Size: 6’2″, 180 lbs

Strengths

• Creates space with hesitation dribble
• Can hit deep threes and floaters
• Active hands on defense
• Controls pace well in the half-court

Projection

Acaden Lewis has starter potential with upside if passing sharpens and frame develops. With elite on-ball creation talent, playmaking and shooting upside, he figures to work himself into bigger role, no matter where he decides to go. Lewis can hit shots from deep and plays active defense with quick hands. While his passing is still developing, his scoring ability and on-ball pressure make him a valuable two-way prospect.

Race for Acaden Lewis

With Kentucky out, this is shaping up to be a battle between UNC and Georgetown. Georgetown offers proximity, a fast track to minutes, and strong NIL potential. UNC offers a national platform and one of the best development pipelines in college basketball. Duke, while still involved, doesn’t offer the same immediate opportunity. Lewis is expected to make a decision soon.