Syracuse Basketball: Adrian Autry shows 4-star Acaden Lewis he's a top 2025 priority

If Syracuse basketball ultimately doesn't prevail in the recruiting sweepstakes for one of the country's hottest prospects, 2025 four-star Acaden Lewis from Washington, D.C., it won't be due to the Orange staff not putting in the work for the fast-rising, 6-foot-3 guard.

Lewis, who recently installed the 'Cuse in his top eight, along with numerous blue-blood programs, picked up a scholarship offer from the Orange in late April of this year. Ever since then, the Syracuse basketball staff has recruited him hard, showing Lewis that he's a top priority for the program in the rising high school senior class.

In May, then again in late June, Orange coaches were on hand to watch Lewis in person during live periods, first on the AAU circuit and then during a scholastic evaluation period where he suited up for his D.C.-based high school.

This past weekend, amid another live period in grassroots hoops, 'Cuse head coach Adrian Autry was in the house for at least two of Lewis' games in Nike’s EYBL league. Another live period on the AAU circuit will take place this coming weekend, from July 19 to July 21; let's see if the Orange is in attendance for Lewis yet again.

Syracuse basketball, among other schools, is pursuing 4-star guard Acaden Lewis quite hard.

Lewis, who has vaulted into the top 40 nationally of the 2025 cycle and is trending toward five-star status, is a standout with the Sidwell Friends School in D.C.

This spring and summer, he has proven one of the best players in the 17U division of the EYBL league, starring for the Oxon Hill, Md.-based Team Durant.

His top eight features the Orange, Kentucky, two-time defending national champion UConn, North Carolina, Duke, Tennessee, Michigan and Auburn. Lewis has unofficially visited Kentucky, UConn and North Carolina of late, and he plans to take official visits to all eight of his finalists.

From July 13 to July 21 in North Augusta, S.C., the EYBL is holding its annual Peach Jam tournament. Team Durant didn't qualify for the 24-squad Peach Jam field in the 17U division, so it is suiting up through this weekend in a separate event known as the Peach Invitational Tournament ("PIT").

Through his first two games in PIT action, with Autry and other top college coaches watching, Lewis certainly hasn't disappointed the crowds.

On Saturday afternoon, Team Durant defeated the Chicago-based Mac Irvin Fire, 85-69. Per the EYBL Web site, Lewis finished with a squad-high 21 points, along with four rebounds and three assists.

Then, on Sunday morning, Team Durant beat the Columbus, Ohio-based All Ohio Red, 83-59. Lewis tallied 16 points, seven boards, seven assists and three steals. Through that first pair of contests, Lewis was among the leaders in both points and assists per game in the PIT event.