Top-25 recruit Acaden Lewis has officially decommitted from Kentucky, he told ESPN on Thursday. The talented point guard called the decision “incredibly difficult,” but said he had to “do what’s best for my future.”
The Washington, D.C. native was part of the 2025 recruiting class and a key early commitment for Pope and his new staff. A creative, pass-first lead guard with high-level feel, Lewis looked like a steady hand for Kentucky’s future backcourt.
But the roster got crowded.
Backcourt Logjam
Lewis was already expected to be behind Jaland Lowe, and the additions of Travis Perry and Jasper Johnson made the point guard spot even more competitive. If Otega Oweh ends up logging minutes at the two, minutes would be even tougher to come by.
That traffic jam may have helped prompt Lewis’ decision.
Still, he was a highly regarded fit. Adam Finkelstein, 247Sports’ Director of Scouting, described Lewis as a “lefty lead guard” with a tight handle, great feel, and soft touch. He’s known for his advanced layup-making ability with either hand, mid-range floaters, and court vision. Despite shooting just 31% from three in EYBL play, he showed promise as a future knockdown shooter — especially with an 83% free throw rate and high-volume attempts from deep.
What’s Next for Kentucky?
There’s no word yet on whether Pope will pursue a replacement in the 2025 high school class or look to the portal to fill the backup point guard role. Kentucky has been aggressive in transfer recruiting, with portal targets like Lamar Wilkerson and Alvaro Folgueiras in the mix, and more names sure to emerge.
Lewis’ departure won’t be easy to shrug off. His skill set and team-first mentality seemed tailor-made for Pope’s motion-heavy offense. While he may have been a year away from major minutes, he was certainly a player worth developing.
For now, Kentucky still has a strong 2025 group, but the backcourt succession plan just got a bit murkier. Expect Pope and staff to stay active — both in case of more departures and as opportunities continue to arise.