INTERVIEW: Lewis Responds to Bleacher Report Article

Last week Bleacher Report caused quite a stir when they posted an article entitled ‘College Basketball Recruiting: 10 Players Guaranteed to Be Busts.’  The Wolfpack fanbase went to war on the social media airwaves, expressing their displeasure with the fact that NC State commits Tyler Lewis and TJ Warren were a part of the Top-10.

Here is what Bleacher Report had to say specifically about Lewis:

Tyler Lewis is an undersized point guard who has decent height for high school, but will be hurt by it in college.

At 5’11″ and 165 pounds, he is one of the smallest players in the class, and he will have to compete against players who are much bigger, stronger and quicker than him at the next level.

Lewis is a creative passer, but he is most efficient in the lane. It will be much harder for him to get past defenders at the next level, and he will not be able to probe defenses like he could in high school.

A smart player, he could compensate for being beaten by quicker point guards by knowing where they would go and heading them off. But that won’t fly at the next level, as he will be continuously beaten off the dribble.

Lewis is a true point guard who won’t be scoring much at the next level. He is going to be a bust for the Wolfpack. They might not be able to win the ACC because of him. (Via Bleacher Report)

I reached out to Lewis yesterday to see what his thoughts were on the Bleacher Report article and the response of Wolfpack fans.

“No doubt it upsets me.  It just gives me more motivation to get better and prove them wrong,” said Lewis.  ”You don’t want to see an article like that about yourself.  I just have to prove people wrong.”

Lewis was blown away by the support of the Wolfpack fans on Twitter.

“It just shows that all of these people have a lot of love for me not just as a player, but as a person,” said Lewis.  ”I just want to thank everyone that supported me last week.”

Tyler didn’t need the Bleacher Report article to inform him that he was undersized.  He has one main goal between now and when he steps foot on NC State’s campus on June 24th: to gain weight.  Currently Lewis weighs 162 pounds, and he hopes arrive on campus 8 pounds heavier.

Lewis can’t wait to get on campus and start proving people wrong.  According to the incoming freshman, CJ Leslie, Scott Wood, and Lorenzo Brown reach out to him on a regular basis.  Lewis understands that he plays the same position as Brown, and couldn’t be more excited to come in and compliment him.

“I think me and Zo compliment each other. I think he’s the best point guard in the ACC,” said Lewis.  ”I have a lot that I will learn from him, and I’m sure that he will learn a few things from me.  I’m not the type of guy to get jealous.”

Tyler has been in the business of proving people wrong for quite sometime.  No one gave him a shot at being a McDonald’s All-American.  No one expected him to perform to the level he did against the best competition in the country this past year.  All this article did was add fuel to the fire for Lewis.