Maxwell Lewis is a sophomore wing at Pepperdine who has started the season off on a tear. With positive size, athleticism and shooting touch Lewis has an intriguing case as both a high floor and high ceiling option in the first round.

Offense

First and foremost, Max Lewis is a shooter. He is quick getting into his release and has the height to shoot over a contest. He flashes a genuine confidence as a shooter, but there is room for additional volume from distance as he is currently taking less than four attempts per game.

Within the arc is where the flashes of self creation are more prevalent. Lewis is comfortable attacking closeouts into a pull up jumper or taking the ball all the way to the rim. He does not have an advanced handle and is limited in his ways he can attack off the bounce. Lewis’ smooth transition into a jumper off the dribble offers a helpful safety valve as the defense collapses. His creation really thrives posting up against a mismatch utilizing his touch, height and athleticism to get quality looks. 

The handle is a limiting factor in terms of his playmaking for others. Lewis is rarely creating advantages he can capitalize on, but he is confident reading the court. Lewis has a good feel for the offensive end, but it shows itself in less pronounced ways due to the role he is asked to play. He moves well without the ball and has a knack for putting himself into position to score without the ball in his hands.

Defense

As stated at the top, Lewis is a positive athlete with good size for his position. His brightest moments are guarding the point of attack where he can use his frame and quickness to disrupt ball handlers. He does a good job navigating screens and using his length to recover and contest. When he is able stay in front there are moments he simply absorbs smaller ball handlers with his superior height and length, a valuable attribute for a complementary wing.

Lewis’ off ball defense is more of a mixed bag. He has the tools to succeed there and flashed some good moments closing out to shooters but is too often disengaged in the play. He can get caught ball watching, putting himself out of position to defend his man as a cutter or shooter. He has the ability to be an impactful help defender at the rim and on the perimeter but has struggled to do so consistently. Turning his awareness into action would go a long way towards a more diverse defensive impact.

Overview: 

Maxwell Lewis is an incredibly intriguing prospect as a two-way wing that provides more offensive potential than a typical 3+D specialist. He can score in a variety of ways, all while providing the necessary spacing of a low usage wing. Nearly every team in the league could use an athletic, sweet shooting wing who can defend at the point of attack. If Lewis is able to improve the security and confidence of his handle he could become something even greater.

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