Top Point Guard Acaden Lewis Decommits from Kentucky Amid Recruitment Shift

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Acaden Lewis, a four-star point guard ranked No. 30 overall in the 2025 recruiting class, has officially decommitted from the University of Kentucky, requesting a release from his national letter of intent. Lewis’s announcement was made on April 10, 2025, marking a notable shift in his recruitment journey after he originally committed to the Wildcats in November 2024.

The 6-foot-2 athlete from Washington, D.C., previously chose Kentucky over other prestigious programs, including Duke, North Carolina, and UConn. This decision was viewed as a significant achievement for Wildcats head coach Mark Pope, who expressed enthusiasm about Lewis’s potential at the time of his signing, stating, “Acaden Lewis is so much of what you want to find in a great point guard.”

In his resignation statement to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, Lewis expressed gratitude towards Coach Pope and the Kentucky staff. “I will always be grateful to Coach Pope and the entire Kentucky staff for believing in me,” Lewis said. He highlighted the special nature of Kentucky’s fanbase while discussing his decision to reopen his recruitment. “This was an incredibly difficult decision, but after a lot of discussion with my family and people I trust, I feel this is necessary,” he noted, emphasizing this choice did not reflect any negative feelings towards the program.

Lewis’s talent has been acknowledged on the national stage, crowned as the Gatorade Player of the Year for Washington, D.C., during his junior year at Sidwell Friends School in Bethesda, Maryland. According to the 247Sports composite rankings, he stands out as the fifth-best point guard nationwide.

This development comes as Kentucky is actively reshaping its roster through the transfer portal, recently adding players such as Arizona State’s Jayden Quaintance, Pitt’s Jaland Lowe, Alabama’s Mouhamed Dioubate, and Tulane’s Kam Williams. The Wildcats will also welcome incoming freshmen, five-star guard Jasper Johnson and five-star McDonald’s All-American center Malachi Moreno.

With Lewis’s departure, there is an immediate need for Kentucky to secure a backup point guard, especially with Jaland Lowe expected to fill the starting role next season. “They want me to come in and play a priority role right away,” Lewis had expressed before committing to Kentucky. “There’s a starting spot and he wants me to take it. I want to come in and run the team.”

The recruitment landscape continues to evolve, and many programs will likely pursue Lewis, keen on securing a talented point guard who can lead and adapt. As Lewis reassesses his options, his ambition and skills on the court will make him a highly coveted recruit.

As both Lewis and Kentucky embark on new pathways, the college basketball recruiting scene remains dynamic. Fans are likely to closely monitor where Lewis will land next while Kentucky navigates its strategy to build a competitive team for the upcoming season. The Wildcats have also shown interest in other top recruits, including forward Nate Ament, projected to be a top-five pick in the 2026 NBA draft.