Lewis continues recruiting roll

By Joe Henricksen

Lewis University has been active recruiting the Class of 2011. And coach Scott Trost added another impressive piece to his recruiting haul, landing Homewood-Flossmoor standout Julian Lewis Thursday morning.

Lewis, who had received Division I interest and a couple of offers, chose to stay close to home and joins an impressive recruiting class with a strong local flavor. Lewis joins Riverside-Brookfield guard Ryan Jackson, Naperville Central’s 6-6 David Niggins and Morton point guard Jeff Jarosz.

Trost will welcome a player in Lewis who will offer plenty of versatility. At 6-5 with strength and athleticism, Lewis can defend multiple positions at the Division II level and, in time, may be able to play three different spots on the floor. Lewis has been a fixture for coach Jim McLaughlin at H-F as a player who defends, rebounds and added to his offensive repertoire this past season.

In two big wins at the Proviso West Holiday Tournament over Proviso West and Proviso East, Lewis was at his best. He scored 59 points (on an impressive 21 of 30 from the field) in the two victories, with 17 rebounds, 8 assists and 7 steals in helping the Vikings to the Proviso West Holiday Tournament title game, where it eventually fell to Benet Academy.

Trost now has the ultimate underrated recruiting class with underappreciated players who bring so much value to a basketball program. (For more on Jarosz and Niggins from a Hoops Report blog in January go to Give’em Some Love.)