For months, insiders had Duke and South Carolina at the top of Lewis’s list. South Carolina made a strong push with hometown appeal and family ties. Duke, of course, came with legacy, blue-blood status, and a storied path to the NBA. But in the end, Lewis said Kentucky offered him “something real.”
Sources close to the decision say Kentucky’s new culture under head coach Mark Pope played a major role. Known for prioritizing player development, team-first mentality, and a renewed commitment to fundamentals, Pope’s pitch struck a different chord with Lewis.
Leave a Reply