Marquette’s Justin Lewis making a rapid rise

Marquette’s shock rise within the Large East coincides with the ascent of Justin Lewis.

The redshirt freshman has greater than doubled his scoring common from final season and ranks among the many Large East leaders in a number of statistical classes. He has gone from below the radar to potential NBA draft decide if he decides to show professional this 12 months.

“Justin Lewis is a man that actually intrigues me,” Area of 68 Media Community founder Rob Dauster stated. “He’s a powerful, bodily, 6-foot-7 wing that has a 7-foot-2 wingspan and has actually flourished taking part in in Shaka Sensible’s open type this season. He’s received all of the hallmarks of being a man that may comply with within the mould of Marquette legends like Jae Crowder or Wesley Matthews.”

Marquette, picked ninth within the 11-team Large East within the preseason, sits fourth within the standings and, at No. 18, has its highest AP High 25 rating in two years. Lewis led the Golden Eagles to a two-game season sweep of convention energy Villanova and to wins in eight of its final 10 video games.

Lewis, who began one sport and averaged 7.8 factors per sport in 2020-21, is scoring a team-best 16.6 factors per sport. His 3-point taking pictures has improved from 22% final season to 35%, his free-throw taking pictures from 58% to 76% and his rebounding common has gone from 5.4 per sport to eight.0.

“I’ve advanced lots,” Lewis stated on the Large East Digital Community’s Shootaround. “I’d say final 12 months was a studying lesson. I realized lots from older guys in entrance of me. … I belief my work, and that’s what you see out right here.”

Dauster indicated one other 12 months of seasoning in faculty might serve Lewis effectively.

“If he leaves, I feel he’d get drafted within the second spherical,” Dauster stated. “If he comes again, I feel he’s one of many guys that I’ll peg as having an actual shot to leap up into the lottery subsequent 12 months.”

SIZE: 6-7, 245 kilos

STATS: 16.6 factors, 8.0 rebounds, 45% FG, 35% 3-pt FG, 1.2 steals, 1.8 blocks.

STRENGTHS: Nice mixture of bodily capability and pure instruments; performs via contact effectively; robust rebounder; can guard a number of positions.

WEAKNESSES: Perimeter shot is getting higher however nonetheless wants work; has extra turnovers than assists.

DRAFT PROJECTION: Second spherical.

Different prospects across the Large East:

G JUSTIN MOORE, VILLANOVA: The 6-4, 210-pound junior guard, who missed Saturday’s sport towards UConn with a left ankle harm, got here again to attain 16 factors in a win over St. John’s on Tuesday. He struggled along with his shot in his earlier two video games, combining to go 5 for 21 general and a couple of for 12 on 3s.

JULIAN CHAMPAGNIE, ST. JOHN’S: The 6-8, 215-pound junior ahead broke out of a mini droop with six 3s and 27 factors towards Georgetown final week. He adopted that with 21 factors and eight rebounds towards Butler however was simply 4 of 15 with 12 factors towards Villanova on Tuesday.

AMINU MOHAMMED, GEORGETOWN: The 6-5, 210-pounder led the struggling Hoyas with 18 factors on 7-of-11 taking pictures and had 4 rebounds, three steals and two assists towards Windfall. The Large East’s preseason freshman of the 12 months is tied for the league lead with six double-doubles.