NCAA Basketball: Top 15 pending decisions for 2022 NBA Draft

11. F Justin Lewis – Marquette Golden Eagles

2021-22 stats: 16.8 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 1.7 apg

Last offseason, Lewis was a consensus breakout candidate after producing well in limited minutes off the bench as a freshman. But under new head coach Shaka Smart, the 6’7 forward was unleashed, leading the Eagles in both scoring and rebounding and having a number of big performances.

Some notable efforts include nine occasions of at least 20 points, capped off by a career-high 33 points, nine rebounds, and six assists in a road win over Seton Hall. Lewis shot 35% from three-point range and showed that he can score from just about anywhere on the court. He’s also a quality rebounder for a player his size and can defend as well.

Lewis is currently a projected second-round pick and there’s a question as to whether or not he can raise his stock any further. Maybe if he can raise his three-point percentages to around 40% and shoots them every game, Lewis can be a 1st-rounder. He’s a sophomore so he can stay one more year and he’ll be 21 around the 2023 NBA Draft.

As for Marquette, they’re already losing starting guard Darryl Morsell so Lewis leaving too makes it 40% lost scoring production. The team has in replacement ready in former NAIA Player of the Year Zach Wrightsil, another 6’7 forward for next season. The Eagles will need underclassmen such as Tyler Kolek, Kam Jones, and Olivier-Maxence Prosper to have big sophomore campaigns to help offset what they’ll lose with Lewis.