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Welcome to “Good Morning, Illini Nation,” your daily dose of college basketball news from Illini beat writer and AP Top 25 voter Scott Richey. He’ll offer up insights every morning on Brad Underwood’s team:
Illinois continued to add to its Class of 2025 recruiting board in the last week with an offer to four-star wing Joshua Lewis. The not quite consensus four-star recruit — he’s ranked by Rivals, ESPN and On3 but not 247Sports — has other offers from South Florida, Cincinnati, Mississippi and Virginia Tech. The 6-foot-7, 175-pound small forward is ranked as high No. 44 in the Class of 2025 by On3.
Blessed to receive an offer from Illinois 🧡🧡 #AGTG pic.twitter.com/sVkdiNQeiV
— Joshua Lewis (@JoshuaLewis10) November 19, 2023
Lewis led Blake (Fla.) to a 22-7 record as a sophomore in 2022-23. The Yellow Jackets, who are out of Tampa, lost in the region quarterfinals of the FHSAA Class 5A state tournament to Leesburg. Lewis averaged 13.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.8 blocks and 2.1 assists. He shot 49 percent from the field overall and 31 percent from three-point range and made 67 percent of his free throws.
Lewis played for Florida Rebels on Nike’s E16 circuit this past spring and summer alongside fellow Illinois targets Jamier Jones, Jalen Reece and Bryce Heard. Lewis averaged 10.3 points and 5.7 rebounds during the regular season and was a 56/37/80 shooter. He put up 11.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game at Peach Jam and shot 58 percent overall, 61 percent from three-point range and 60 percent at the free throw line.
Lewis will tip off his junior season at Blake on Friday against Union Grove (Ga.) at Thanksgiving HoopFeast in Wesley Chapel, Fla., which is a Tampa suburb. The two-day event will feature nearly 150 games at Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex.