Next Star Lewis Eyes Off First Round Selection

After the success of Perth (Alex Sarr, pick two) and Illawarra (AJ Johnson, pick 23) to boost their Next Stars into the first round of the most recent draft, a productive NBL season could see the 19-year-old rocket into top end predictions.

“I’m just looking to go as high as I possibly can, just play hard and do my best. And wherever it takes me, it takes me,” Lewis told Phoenix Media.

“I know most of the young guys that go to Australia develop well, I’m looking forward to following that path and becoming an NBA player.”

Lewis’s development is nothing short of remarkable having only begun playing basketball four years ago after a junior career in soccer and cricket.

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A native Trinbagonian, Lewis quickly rose, both in skill and height, to feature in Spain’s topflight basketball league with Fuenlabrada, before a stint with the Mexico City Capitanes in the NBA G-League.

To have a shot at the NBA, whether first round or otherwise, is mind-boggling for Lewis considering he only swapped the pitch for the court in 2020, but he knows he has work to do to get there.

“I’ve got to bulk up a little bit, but teams have told me that they’d like to see me more ball dominant, shoot a bit better and get the reps.”

Despite his short time in the game, Lewis is a tantalising prospect for any team to work with and brings with him a myriad of different skills.

“I have a really high motor on offence and defence, I can handle the ball, I can take the pressure off our main scorers, but I can help in defence as well.

“I can shoot, pass and do a little bit of everything, I’m just excited to get better at it all.”

Since the Phoenix and Lewis agreed to pair up, the young star has got to work watching as many NBL highlights as he can to pick up the cues that may give him a head start come pre-season, and it’s the free-flowing nature of the game that had his interest piqued.

“The referees seem laid back, you don’t get technical fouls for little things, it’s a high-pace, physical league, it’s something I’m really looking forward to.”

Lewis said he’d fly to Australia tomorrow if that were an option, but the immigration process may halt the enthusiasm if only temporarily.

Until he lands in Melbourne, the 203cm forward will remain in New York and continue to prepare for his first professional season in the Southern Hemisphere, with his eyes firmly fixed on an August 1 opening day of pre-season.

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