Recruiting profile: Meet Acaden Lewis, the No. 1 2025 recruit from D.C. in men’s basketball

The second day of the Under Armour Elite 24 concluded on Friday, with some of the top high school and international basketball players competing in scrimmages in front of several NBA scouts.

While the main event of the three-day showcase was the nationally televised game on Saturday, Friday also provided a rare opportunity to see some of the nation’s best talent, with 2025 four-star guard Akaden Lewis standing out with his versatility of skills.

Lewis, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound guard out of Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C., is the top player coming out of D.C. in the 2025 class.

Lewis proved himself during individual work-ups during practice on Thursday, competing against five-star contenders and talented four-star guards in both the 2025 and 2026 classes.

Lewis showed off his excellent shooting touch during 3-point drills and carried that performance into Friday’s scrimmage, working with and without the ball and highlighting his excellent handlebars, catch-and-shoot ability, playmaking instincts and defensive tenacity.

“I think it’s just a feeling,” Lewis said of his balance between scoring and assists. “I always try to get my big guys involved early. It’s to motivate them. I want them to rebound, set screens, things like that. So I always try to get my big guys involved. The wings and guards, they get themselves involved and score here and there so I don’t have to deal with them as much. So I always try to get my big guys involved. And once I get in a rhythm, it’s usually smooth sailing. I try to make all the reads I can.”

I think with my reputation, people see me as a scorer. They know I can get downhill, they know I can shoot, so I take advantage of that. People are going to come at me hard. People are going to try to blitz me. So being manipulative with ball screens and stuff is my go-to because I can get other people involved.”

Lewis’ size could see him being asked to play point guard at the next level, but his scoring ability suggests he may be better suited as a combo guard.

While Lewis will try to prove he can be an effective player in the first round this summer, he acknowledged the positionless style of basketball that has become so prevalent in the NBA lately, especially in the NBA.

“I’ve had the opportunity to go to a couple of really high-level camps this summer, like CP3, so every time I go I want to prove that I’m one of the best players in the country. [and] “One of the best point guards in the country,” Lewis said.

“A lot of people think I’m a combo. [guard] To be honest, in the NBA, it doesn’t really matter. There are a lot of combo guards. Curry plays more off-ball than on-ball. I just want to prove that I can play with the elite players. That’s also something that the NBA scouts over there really value, because I might be on the same team as LeBron, so I might have to play a little bit more off-ball.”

Lewis is now in his final year and has begun narrowing down his list of top schools, and is expected to announce his official visit schedule within the next week or two.

The guard visited Duke University this week before participating in the Under Armour Next Elite 24, and prior to that took a trip to Syracuse University last week.

Overall, it’s been a busy summer for the Washington, D.C., native as he continues to climb the recruiting rankings, with plenty of renewed interest from top schools and standing out at several camps, and he has his sights set high heading into his senior season.

“this year, [I’m looking to] “I’m ready to earn a spot in the McDonald’s All-American Game,” Lewis said, “and I’m right on the brink. You know, I’ve made big gains in the rankings with every service, but I’m still updating them. So a camp like this is just another way for me to show my worth and show that I belong among the most elite.”

Lewis will be looking to cap off a successful weekend with a strong showing in Saturday’s nationally televised Elite 24 game at 8pm ET on ESPNU.

After that, it’s time to race towards his senior season and continue to look to earn national acclaim, just as he has done all summer.