Jaden Lewis Prospect Report (2018)
Recruiting pipelines are overstated and package deals almost never materialize as bandied about in message boards and chat rooms.
Yet Demontay Dixon’s verbal commitment to Illinois State already began a ripple effect in middle Tennessee.
“They want me to walk-on because they don’t have any scholarships left this year,” said Demontay Dixon’s Summit High teammate Jaden Lewis.
Spearheading this walk-on proposal from Illinois State to Jaden Lewis is ISU Assistant Coach Brian “Penny” Collins. It is true Illinois State has no more scholarship offers to extend. Presumably Demontay Dixon and Rey Idowu will sign in November setting up 14 scholarship players for 2018-2019. The NCAA only allows 13 scholarship players on Division I teams.
Sure some players elect to transfer and coaches not so subtly encourage transfers from guys they don’t see a future with under their system, but the math has to get to 13 by this time next year.
“He talked to the head coach and they are actually looking at a walk-on point guard this year that they can give a scholarship to next year,” said Lewis of Coach Penny.
Again this may be true. The numbers of available scholarship slots opens up after the current junior class graduates following the 2018-2019 season. And Jaden Lewis might just earn one of those scholarships.
“He told me that they are going to have some scholarships available next year.”
The problem is Jaden Lewis has to trust the Illinois State staff will honor this veiled promise of a scholarship when the time arises. By bringing Lewis on as a “preferred walk-on”, which he really likes the idea of accepting, the Illinois State Redbird staff is under no obligation to ever make him a scholarship player.
In essence, Jaden Lewis would be auditioning all season for a scholarship spot that the coaching staff may or may not even be holding auditions for.
Initial Visit
When Demontay Dixon took his official visit Jaden Lewis tagged along.
“That was my first time there,” said Jaden Lewis. “Basically we got there and watched their practice. The head coach wanted to see me play. They took us on a tour of the school. It was a Homecoming, so we walked around.”
Illinois State competes in the Missouri Valley Conference. The school generally attracts students all over the state to its centrally located campus.
“It was nice. It was the perfect size school. Not too big. Not too little. Everybody was having fun. I am definitely looking forward to it.”
The 30th best ’18 player in Tennessee, Jaden Lewis really likes the opportunity to fight and claw for a scholarship during his first season on the Bloomington-Normal campus (potentially 2018-2019).
“The way they made it sound I think you apply as a student and they are going to try to put packages together for us to help with out of state costs.”
If Illinois State can offer Jaden Lewis and family academic scholarships to defray the cost of tuition it will certainly make the situation more appealing.
ISU is the only school to introduce this possibility for Jaden Lewis, but he has had sniffs from other colleges. Lewis attended Lee University Elite Camp. They have not offered, but if Lee or a team of that ilk does offer Lewis believes he will have to consider it strongly.
“I would probably be more interested walking on if I knew 100% I would get the scholarship (later),” offered Jaden Lewis. “Taking a scholarship seems safer to me instead of wasting a lot of money. That is a kind of an option I would have to talk with my parents.”
With his entire senior season to play the possibilities are sure to mount. Jaden Lewis is a elusive lead guard, capable of scoring in bunches. He has a firm hold on the position and projects as a D2-D3 starter.
Walking on with Illinois State certainly presents an enticing option and Jaden Lewis’ enthusiasm for the concept is high. A genuine recruiting pipeline might just be forming.