"I just really love Mark Pope": Elite 4-star guard Acaden Lewis commits to Kentucky Wildcats

Acaden Lewis, a top-30 prospect in the class of 2025, committed to Mark Pope's Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday, November 2.

The 4-star guard chose Kentucky over the UConn Huskies, the Duke Blue Devils, and the Michigan Wolverines. The Washington, DC. resident didn't want to let go of the opportunity and announced his commitment to the Wildcats:

"I’ll be committing to the University of Kentucky, I think the opportunity just can’t be taken for granted. Being a point guard at Kentucky is a huge deal," Lewis told On3.

Acaden Lewis had over 25 offers from various universities, but the Wildcats stood out for him. Coach Pope and his staff have played a huge role in the youngster's choice.

"I just really love Mark Pope and his staff. ...They’ve done a lot to make me a priority, they’ve been here a lot for me," Lewis said.

The 6-foot-2 point guard remarked that Pope did a great job at BYU and also brought in Jason Hart. Meeting Alvin Brooks, Mark Fox, and other staff was a satisfying experience for Acaden Lewis:

"The staff was just super knowledgeable with a lot of league experience, and that’s obviously the next level I want to get to," Acaden concluded.

Mark Pope's Pitch to Secure Acaden Lewis

Lewis was already in love with Kentucky's program and Pope gave him even more reasons to commit. The coach reportedly told him that Kerr Kriisa and Lamont Butler wouldn't be there next year and he would play a central role in the team's future. The Sidwell Friends School's guard felt at home during the visit.

Everything made sense to Lewis in Kentucky and he was glad that he waited all this time and went on multiple visits. Lewis revealed that many little moments in Kentucky helped him clear his mind and make the choice. He could feel that the management would do everything in their power to land him.

Another thing Lewis liked about Pope was his habit of asking him if he was ready to commit every time they met. His outgoing personality and fun attitude reportedly led to Lewis committing to the Wildcats.