In a significant twist on the recruiting trail, four-star guard Acaden Lewis has flipped his college commitment from the Kentucky Wildcats to the Kansas State Wildcats. The Washington, D.C. native had committed to Mark Pope’s Kentucky program earlier this spring, but after a recent visit to Manhattan and ongoing conversations with head coach Jerome Tang, Lewis announced he will be suiting up in purple next season.
Lewis, a 6-foot-3 combo guard from Sidwell Friends School, is considered one of the most dynamic backcourt prospects in the 2025 class. Known for his elite ball-handling, three-level scoring, and leadership on the floor, Lewis had been viewed as a foundational piece in Pope’s first full recruiting class at Kentucky. His flip to Kansas State comes as a surprise to many and serves as a huge win for Tang’s staff.
According to sources close to the situation, Lewis had been quietly re-evaluating his decision over the past few weeks. While he was initially excited about the vision presented by Pope and the opportunity to play at historic Rupp Arena, Kansas State’s family-like atmosphere, up-tempo style of play, and Tang’s growing reputation for developing guards ultimately won him over. Lewis made an unofficial visit to Kansas State earlier this month, and that trip proved pivotal in his decision to change course.
For Kansas State, this is a massive recruiting victory. Lewis is a Top-50 national prospect and is expected to bring immediate impact to the program both on and off the court. His commitment solidifies the Wildcats’ future backcourt, pairing him with current commit David Castillo, forming one of the most promising guard tandems in the Big 12.
Jerome Tang continues to prove he’s one of the rising stars in the coaching world, especially on the recruiting trail. Since taking over at Kansas State, Tang has landed multiple high-profile players, pushed the Wildcats into national relevance, and made an Elite Eight run in 2023. With Lewis now in the fold, Tang’s 2025 class is shaping up to be one of the strongest in the country.
On the other side, Kentucky fans will undoubtedly feel the sting of losing Lewis. He was among the earliest commits of the Mark Pope era and was often praised for embracing the challenge of bringing Kentucky back to national prominence. His departure means Pope and his staff will need to reassess their backcourt targets, though with the Wildcats aggressively pursuing top guards like Meleek Thomas and Darryn Peterson, there’s still plenty of opportunity to reload.
As for Lewis, he now turns his attention to finishing his senior year strong and preparing for his next chapter at Kansas State. With his playmaking ability and relentless drive, he’s expected to be a major contributor from day one in Manhattan. The Wildcats are building something special, and Acaden Lewis just became a centerpiece of that future.