PREPS PLUS

Milwaukee Riverside standout Terrence Lewis will play basketball at Iowa State

Mark Stewart
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Terrence Lewis called it an easy choice.

The Milwaukee Riverside boys basketball standout announced his commitment to Iowa State on Tuesday afternoon at the high school’s gym. The 6-foot-6 wing chose the Cyclones after narrowing his final four to also include Marquette, UNLV and Illinois.

The announcement happened a couple of days after he made an unofficial visit to the campus in Ames, but Lewis' decision had more to do with his experience with the Cyclones over the past year.

Their level of interest in him was apparent and often it came from the top, head coach Steve Prohm.

“I didn’t count, but the first tournament we played, NY2LA, he was here a couple of days,” said Ike Wilson, the coach of Lewis’ club team, Wisconsin Playground Elite. “The second time we played, he was here. The first time we played in Orlando, he was there.”

Lewis can make his commitment binding during the early signing period from Nov. 9-16. His commitment continues a trend of players from Milwaukee playing for Iowa State. Former Pulaski standout Jameel McKay completed his eligibility in March, while Deonte Burton (Vincent) is a senior and Donovan Jackson (Pius XI) will be a junior.

Lewis called it an honor to join the program and appreciated the “loyalty” Prohm showed him during his recruitment.

“He calls me every day to see if I’m OK, to see what I can work on, what I’m getting better at, just having a conversation about anything I feel like I’m comfortable talking to him about.” Lewis said. “As the seasons go on, we’ll have a bond that can not be broken.”

Lewis is the fourth area player from the Class of 2017 to make a Division I commitment. Jordan Poole, who left Milwaukee King for La Lumiere Prep in La Porte, Ind.,  will sign with Michigan, Wauwatosa West’s Alou Dillon is headed to South Dakota State and Mukwonago’s Brandon Hau committed to Indiana-Purdue in the spring.

Lewis, the Journal Sentinel's area player of the year, averaged 22.2 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.8 assists per game and led the team to an undefeated record in the City Conference last season. He finished the year with 16 double-doubles and showed great offensive efficiency.

Lewis finished the season with 577 points on 363 shots. He shot 62% overall, a percentage he maintained while going 62 of 121 (52.1%) from three-point range. He averaged just below 14 shots per game.

At Iowa State, he’ll play shooting guard and small forward.

“They get up and down (the court), and Terrence is an up-and-down kid,” Wilson said. “He likes to play fast, up-tempo. He’s not a kid who plays a lot of half court. That’s not his style”

In addition to playing with Playground Elite, Lewis took part in two of the country’s more prestigious camps this summer: the NBPA Top 100 camp and the Nike Academy Camp.

“I tried to take in as much information as possible going to those camps,” he said. “The last camp, I took heed to what I need to work on, learning things I never learned about, just being blessed at this very moment and trying to take everything I can to be the best player I can be.”

Lewis now turns his attention to preparing for his final high school season. With his return along with standouts George Dixon and Carlos Curtis, Riverside will again be expected to be one of state’s top teams

The Tigers fell one game short of reaching the state tournament last season

“I took a big fall last year," Lewis said. "We lost to Marquette by one point, so I’ve got to be hungry for that state ball and be the leader I can be and guide my team to state. That’s what I’m really focused on right now.”

Milwaukee Riverside senior Terrence Lewis was the Journal Sentinel's area player of the year last season.