DWIGHT LEWIS

LEWIS, DWIGHT

Hometown:  Metairie, La. (Archbishop Rummel High)

Kansas recruit known as scorer

By Gary Bedore, Assistant Sports Editor, Thursday, April 21, 2005

Fourth-team Parade All-American Dwight Lewis is known for his ability to put the ball in the basket. That knack, which resulted in 27.5 points per game this past season at Archbishop Rummel High in Metairie, La., should serve the 6-foot-6, 190-pounder well during his career at Kansas University.

"Dwight is a real scorer who can get to the rim," said Rummel High coach Steve Alfonso, who has used Lewis at point guard, shooting guard and forward. "He's got a great midrange jump shot, which is rare these days because of the three-point shot.  "He has the ability to bring it up the court anytime. He is strong, can shoot the three, can dribble the ball and can pull up and score. He also has the ability to defend the perimeter," Alfonso added, noting, "he will be a defensive stopper in college. I see him as a shooting guard/scorer in college."

Lewis, who Tuesday orally committed to KU over Oklahoma, LSU, USC, Baylor, Texas A&M and others, had a huge upside, Alfonso said. "I think his best basketball is ahead of him," the coach said of Lewis, who averaged 9.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game for 26-12 Rummel.

Lewis, who earned first-team all-state honors by the New Orleans Times-Picayune, is ranked No. 84 nationally by rivals.com.  That ranking figures to improve during the summer and during Lewis' senior year of high school.

"Dwight is a very underrated guy, an explosive scorer," said Shay Wildeboor, recruiting analyst for rivals.com. "The reason he is rated so high is he's had mono this past month and not been able to play (in AAU tournaments). "He's listed as a small forward/shooting guard, but is more in the mode of a shooting guard. He has a good handle with the ball, is a tenacious defender on the perimeter, listed 6-6, 195 and still growing. "Obviously, to put up 27.5 points a game at Archbishop Rummel shows what he can do. He is going to come in and have an immediate impact right away."

Of Lewis, rivals.com analyst Jerry Meyer noted: "He is a very good penetrator going either direction. He specializes in pulling up in the midrange area." Lewis is the second player in two years to commit to KU without making an official visit. The other was Julian Wright, 6-9 from Homewood-Flossmoor High in Chicago. "It is rare for that to happen, but what people need to realize is a lot of it has to do with coach (Bill) Self and his assistants selling a program with a long history of tradition," Wildeboor said. "The coaches at Kansas build relationships. Coach Self is a great recruiter. He makes everybody around him feel important."

Lewis' coach said Self was impressive in recruiting. "Dwight told me that he wanted to end his recruitment so he could put all of his focus into our basketball team and program," Alfonso said. "Also, coach Self did a great job recruiting Dwight. It was just the best fit for him, and coach Self did a great job with his presentation."

KU has two remaining scholarships to give in the class of 2006. Self has said he wants a wing player, big man and the next best available athlete.

Prep Lewis picks KU (and this time he means it)

By Gary Bedore, Assistant Sports Editor, Thursday, May 5, 2005

This time, Dwight Lewis insists his decision is final. Lewis, a 6-foot-5 junior basketball shooting guard from Archbishop Rummel High in Metairie, La., who orally committed to Kansas University on April 19, then reneged on April 20, Wednesday recommitted to KU over finalist Louisiana State. This commitment -- unlike the first -- follows an official campus visit to KU.

Last weekend's two-day trip to Lawrence with his parents cemented in Lewis' mind his desire to be a Jayhawk. "It's the first time I've been to Kansas, but it won't be the last. I plan on coming back," Lewis quipped Wednesday. "I loved the atmosphere. It's a powerhouse.  "It's their pro team in Lawrence," added Lewis, who averaged 27.5 points and 9.7 rebounds a game his junior season for 26-12 Rummel High. "It's Kansas basketball. It's what they live for. I like that, playing before a packed house every night. Who wouldn't want it?"

Lewis never seriously entertained being part of KU basketball until the Jayhawk coaches started watching him play last summer and all through the school year. "I mean, if you like basketball as a kid, you have to like Kansas. When I was young, I never thought I'd go to Kansas, but knew about Kansas. It's an honor to be able to go there," he said.

A good student with a 3.4 grade-point average, Lewis said last week's change of heart was "kind of a misunderstanding with my dad. I wanted to make sure to visit, to check out the campus. Now I know I want to go to Kansas." Lewis said he spent the most time on his visit with J.R. Giddens and Jeremy Case. He has played point guard, shooting guard and forward at his high school.

He's ticketed to play shooting guard at KU. "He definitely will be a contributor early on. He's a scorer," said Rummel coach Steve Alfonso, who compares Lewis to former Villanova player Kerry Kittles, who also hails from Louisiana. "His best asset is he has a great mid-range game. He can handle the ball and pull up quick."

Lewis says his style of play will fit in well at KU. "They will be more a run-and-gun team," Lewis said. "They had Wayne Simien. They had to go to the post. With Wayne Simien, who wouldn't go to the post? Now they will be learning to run."

And what will Lewis contribute? "Shooting and getting to the rack, scoring the ball," he said. Lewis is looking forward to doing all those things on the court this summer. He has been weakened by mono for several weeks. He says he was bed-ridden for a week and lost 20 pounds. Now, however, he's on the mend and looking forward to a productive offseason. " I want to have a good season and good summer. I want to go out on top," said Lewis, who was also recruited heavily by USC, Oklahoma and Florida.

He plans to stay four years at Kansas. "I mean, if the NBA comes, it comes. Right now, I'm looking forward to my next goal, winning a championship," said Lewis, a fourth-team Parade All-American who currently is ranked 84th by rivals.com. "With Julian (Wright), Micah (Downs) and Mario (Chalmers) coming in and other guys that are there, we can be top-five in the country."