PSO Scouting Report: PG Kira Lewis

PSO’s original Scouting Reports strive to be uniquely valuable in evaluating a player’s future outlook by focusing on the four main subjects that summarize a player’s likelihood of succeeding at the next level including: Natural Athleticism, developed NBA-Caliber Skills, proven Production, and overall Risk that each individual player presents to a team drafting him. For a full breakdown of PSO’s Scouting Reports, click here.

Bio

Pos: PG

Hometown: Hazel Green, Alabama

Team: Alabama

Class: Sophomore

DOB (Age): 4/6/01 (Age 19)

Height: 6’3″

Weight: 165 lbs.

Facts to Know

Was the youngest active player in the nation during his freshman season at 17 years old
Entered transfer portal after Avery Johnson left Alabama, but Nate Oats convinced him to remain with the Tide
Had a triple double against rival Auburn with 13 assists, tied for 4th most single game assists in Alabama history

Athleticism

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln40Vp8Lw7o&feature=youtu.be

Pros

Quickest player out of all the top prospects, uses his speed in every facet of his game
First step is incredibly fast, can blow by defenders from all angles and gets into the paint with ease
Changes pace very well, not just a one-directional player, can set up defenders with hesitations moves on drives
Solid balance in the air when he focuses on staying under control, makes plays with either hand in the lane
Sound coordination; has a good control on the ball while handling, can improve when driving the lane
Quick on defense, will be able to stay with any guard speed wise, the rest of his defense has potential but needs work

Cons

Frame is not very big, meaning he will not be able to switch on to anyone too much bigger than him on defense
On full-steam drives he does not have the ability to decelerate completely which leads to out of control plays
Not super explosive, quick leaper but will not make a ton of plays above or at the rim
Size limits him on defense, needs to add weight, 10-15 pounds will not significantly slow him down

Grade: B+

NBA Skills

Pros

Aggressive player in transition, attacks rim ferociously and also can lead a break very well with his solid handle
Gets the offense moving quickly, pushes the pace, and knows how to use speed advantage in the fast break
Quick release on his outside shot, great catch and shoot mechanics especially in the upper body
Possesses the ability to score in a variety of ways: jump shots, floaters, behind the arc, at the rim, all in his arsenal
Excellent footwork to get to his spots, execute euros, and cross defenders on his way to the cup
Showed some quality passing potential with alley-oop lobs and dimes under the basket on his film

Cons

Plays out of control at times, turns the ball over or get shots blocked as a result; will need to protect the ball more
Perimeter offense needs work in iso situations; doesn’t break defenders down yet to get an open shot
Not afraid of contact but also not that great at finishing through contests
Cannot be a floor general yet, needs to slow things down and learn how to make advanced reads of defenses

Grade: B+

Production

Pros

18.5 PPG against quality competition, can shoulder an offense if needed, especially when coming off the bench
Above 80% from the FT line is good and could potentially increase due to upper body mechanics
36% projected NBA 3P% is a solid base and will get better as his shot improves
1.8 steals per game is an excellent average because he beats everyone else down the court for easy transition points
5.2 APG is solid considering he didn’t have an elite supporting cast and it almost doubled from Year 1
Significant improvement in all categories including percentages from Year 1 to Year 2; good to see vast improvement

Cons

Only taking 4.2 FTA on 14.5 FGA, for someone around the rim so much that number should be a lot higher
1.47 AST/TO ratio is higher than desirable from a PG
Average usage rate (24.3) and low PER (19.8); a little concerning seeing how many shots he takes
Bad advanced stats, offensive and defensive win shares/40 both below .1, is he doing the little things it takes to win?

Grade: B+

Risk

Pros

Elite speed; can use this as a weapon to create easy baskets for himself and teammates
Potential to keep getting better from beyond the arc, solid form and mechanics with good range
Defensive instincts are good, specific footwork needs to progress, but team defense should not be an issue
Will not turn 20 until April, has the age of a freshman with the experience of a sophomore which is valuable
No history of injuries; reassuring given his frantic style of play and small stature

Cons

Reckless plays will get him taken out of NBA games, needs to learn to slow down for his own sake
Defense was inconsistent at Alabama and doesn’t project well at the next level due to size limitations
Even with added weight he is not very “switchable”, will have issues with even slightly larger wings
Frame is a high-risk issue if he cannot put on muscle; Must keep his elite speed while adding strength to entire body

Grade: B

Overall

When anyone who has watched Kira Lewis is asked to describe him the first word that comes to mind is speed. Speed is everything for Lewis, who is most likely the fastest player in the draft (although without a combine, it’s impossible to definitely prove it with measurables). Lewis played for two seasons under two different coaches at Alabama, and really came into his own under Nate Oats’ fast-paced offense. Coming off a successful sophomore season, Lewis is looking to bring his game to the next level, and should fit right in with the fast-paced style the league is adopting.

Offensively, Lewis has dynamic potential once he gains a little more experience. He is a great catch-and-shoot player already and his midrange game improved a lot. If he is able to get better in isolation he will be a true threat to hurt defenses from anywhere on the floor. His passing is something that does need work, but he made advanced reads occasionally during his time at Bama and showed some improvements NBA teams will respect. Defensively, there are more questions than answers about Lewis. Most of them revolve around his weight and if he will be able to add muscle to compete with larger players in the Association. Despite the doubts about his size, teams are still very interested in Lewis because of all the potential he brings to the offense, and immediate impact he can make running the floor.

Pro Comp: Dennis Schroder

Projected Round/Pick: Mid-late 1st Rd

Prime Destinations: NYK (#8), BOS (#14), ORL (#15)

OVERALL Grade: B+