Jonathan Givony
Standing 5-10, 150 pounds with a 5-10 wingspan, Tyler Lewis (#61 Scout, #55 Rivals, #69 ESPN) doesn't look the part of a potential McDonald's All-American point guard. But he certainly plays like one.
A very flashy and entertaining floor general with boundless confidence, Tyler Lewis runs his Oak Hill squad extremely effectively, doing a great job spreading the wealth around equally. Capable of making the simple and fundamental passes as well as highlight reel caliber assists, Lewis is as creative a point guard as you'll find at the high school level. Changing speeds well and showing superb ball-handling skills, Lewis is a handful for opponents to stay in front of thanks to his excellent skill-level and unpredictable nature.
Able to score off deep catch and shoot jumpers or off pull-ups in the mid-range, Lewis will fill it up on nights that his jumper is falling. He's a bit limited in the half-court at times, though, as he struggles finishing over length inside the paint and may have difficulties taking hits around the basket.
Defensively, Lewis puts a decent effort in and will come up with the occasional steal, but may end up being a liability at times for N.C. State. He will struggle to guard opposing players on most nights, as he simply does not possess the height, length or strength to offer any real presence on this end.
Lewis should be very fun to watch at N.C. State and will certainly keep his teammates happy with his terrific court vision. It's difficult to see him playing in the NBA due to his physical limitations, but players in the Jose Juan Barea mold have shown that it's not impossible. We'll have to see what kind of college career he can string together first.
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