Justin Lewis -- 1st-round draft pick?

[MU82]

It looks like The Athletic is the first legitimate site/publication to place Justin Lewis in the first round. Sam Vecenie is their mock-draft guy, and he stated early in his piece that he wasn't including a few young players who might eventually be convinced by NBA types to come out for the draft. If several (such as UCLA's Peyton Watson, Memphis' Josh Minott, Michigan State's Max Christie, Purdue's Zach Edey, Michigan's Moussa Diabate) do, it could affect those Vecenie projected for the end of the first round.

https://theathletic.com/3127230/2022/02/17/2022-nba-mock-draft-5-0-chet-holmgren-at-no-1-aj-griffin-in-top-5-questions-abound-with-this-years-class/?source=dailyemail&campaign=601983

Anyhoo, here's Vecenie's take on Justin for those who don't have a subscription:

29. Golden State Warriors
Justin Lewis | 6-7 forward | 20 years old | Marquette

Justin Lewis is in the same boat as Liddell, another big-bodied wing who has improved just enough as a shooter this year to give scouts hope that he can play as a versatile, bigger four-man wing who can play on the perimeter, make 3s and play within the team. Lewis is 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan and does have similarly slow feet to Liddell to give scouts pause. But he averages 17 points per game and has a real nose for the bucket with terrific footwork on drives, pivots and reverse pivots to create separation. He falls below Liddell on my board because he's not quite the defensive playmaker the Ohio State forward is. But he has the kind of size, length and shooting that teams tend to buy into. He's in that 25-to-50 bucket right now, which means he has a tough choice to make.

So there. Now nobody (including me) can say we haven't seen Justin projected as a first-rounder in any mock draft.

I wish him great fortune the rest of this season, with his decision, and in whatever direction basketball takes him.

[Newsdreams]

We will be a better team without him....

[GoldenEagles03]

We will be a better team without him....

This is just stupid.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

The ESPN top 100 has Lewis at 26.


https://www.espn.com/nba/draft/bestavailable/_/position/ovr/page/2

USA Today's latest mock draft has Lewis at 42.


https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/nba-mock-draft-chet-holmgren-jaden-ivey-aj-griffin

[We R Final Four]

Where is OMax projected?

[TallTitan34]

Very excited to think of what next season with him would look like, but if I were him I think I'd go.

[BCHoopster]

Where is OMax projected?

We will see in 3 years. 

[GooooMarquette]

This is just stupid.

Knowing Newsie, I am fairly certain it was a joke

[Newsdreams]

Knowing Newsie, I am fairly certain it was a joke

 

[Goose]

Omax very well might not be at MU in three years. His upside is way up there and I believe he is going to make a lot of money playing basketball. I saw on another thread that foreign born MU players were discussed, and I believe he will depart MU as the best of that bunch, minus Butch.

[We R Final Four]

We will see in 3 years.

No no no......this year!

Ask Duanewade.

[BrewCity83]

Even though that was clearly a joke, I do expect us to be better next year without him.  Not better because he's gone, but a better team because of the 10 guys that we will have next year in Year Two of the Great Shaka Reset.  Just like we are a better team this year without Garcia and Carton than we were last year with them--not because they are gone, but because of other factors.

Having said that, if Lewis returns next year, I think we can all agree that we will be better than if he doesn't return.

[Dr. Blackheart]

 

Newsie is a board cancer.

[GooooMarquette]

Even though that was clearly a joke, I do expect us to be better next year without him.  Not better because he's gone, but a better team because of the 10 guys that we will have next year in Year Two of the Great Shaka Reset.  Just like we are a better team this year without Garcia and Carton than we were last year with them--not because they are gone, but because of other factors.

Having said that, if Lewis returns next year, I think we can all agree that we will be better than if he doesn't return.

I think that's fair. We could see huge leaps next year from guys like Stevie, OMax, Oso, Kam and others, along with steady improvement from Tyler. So yes - we could be a very good to excellent team either way.

[GooooMarquette]

Newsie is a board cancer.

Racist ^^^^

[tower912]

Newsie is a board cancer.

Write a letter.

[Stretchdeltsig]

I hope Justin continues his college career at Marquette. He's fun to watch and will continue to develop as a player.  There's plenty of time for pro ball.

[Jockey]

I think that's fair. We could see huge leaps next year from guys like Stevie, OMax, Oso, Kam and others, along with steady improvement from Tyler. So yes - we could be a very good to excellent team either way.

If we get a transfer who can rebound on the defensive boards. I'm surprised you didn't mention Joplin. He steps in for Lewis next year and becomes a 15/8 guy (my early wild prediction). He has the best fundamental rebounding skills I have seen on the team this year.

[GB Warrior]

Justin is going to have a shot to slot into that Jimmy/Lazar spot at the end of the 1st. He can get his own shot, he's big and versatile, and he can score (with varying degrees of efficiency) at all 3 levels. That plays.

[GooooMarquette]

If we get a transfer who can rebound on the defensive boards. I'm surprised you didn't mention Joplin. He steps in for Lewis next year and becomes a 15/8 guy (my early wild prediction). He has the best fundamental rebounding skills I have seen on the team this year.

Yep, totally forgot about Joplin. He could be spectacular in the next couple of seasons.

That's part of what I love about this team. So many guys just oozing with potential.

[Elonsmusk]

Omax very well might not be at MU in three years. His upside is way up there and I believe he is going to make a lot of money playing basketball. I saw on another thread that foreign born MU players were discussed, and I believe he will depart MU as the best of that bunch, minus Butch.

I agree Goose. Watching O-Max live it's evident he's got major pro potential. His handles at his size are fantastic. Pretty quick feet too. Great with his off hand. Hi ne. Ore year of strength and conditioning and skill development I think he takes a big step up next year. I think his ceiling may be higher than Justin's.

[MUfan12]

I've been telling y'all.

Been told the Bucks really like him too. He's gonna wind up in a great situation if he stays in the late first. Good organizations where he'll get coached up and have time to develop.

[Newsdreams]

Newsie is a board cancer.

 

[Newsdreams]

Racist ^^^^

Very

[rocky_warrior]

I do expect us to be better next year without him. 

I think we can all agree that we will be better than if he doesn't return.

Does not compute.