Miami lands 33-game Villanova starter

Acaden Lewis brings scoring punch and experience to the Hurricanes' backcourt.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 12:54am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the basketball movements and skills of Acaden Lewis, the new transfer addition to the Miami Hurricanes, with sharp, overlapping shapes and planes representing his scoring, passing, and defensive impact.A cubist interpretation of Miami's new transfer portal addition, Acaden Lewis, captures the dynamic guard's explosive scoring and playmaking abilities.Today in Miami

Miami basketball has landed Acaden Lewis, a 33-game starter from Villanova, as the latest addition to their transfer portal class. Lewis, a southpaw shooter, averaged 12.2 points and 5.3 assists per game for the Wildcats last season and will provide an experienced scoring presence in the Hurricanes' backcourt.

Why it matters

Miami is building an impressive transfer portal class under head coach Jai Lucas, adding experienced talent like Lewis and Somto Cyril to a team that made the NCAA Tournament last season. Lewis's scoring ability and playmaking skills should help bolster the Hurricanes' offense as they look to build on their March Madness appearance.

The details

Lewis, who originally committed to Kentucky out of high school, spent one season at Villanova before entering the transfer portal. He had a strong freshman campaign, surpassing 20 points seven times and posting a season-high 26 points against Georgetown. The 6'2" point guard is known for his quick-release 3-point shooting and ability to attack the rim in transition.

  • Lewis verbally committed to Kentucky in November 2024.
  • Lewis decommitted from Kentucky on April 10, 2025.
  • Lewis took recruiting visits to St. John's, Villanova, Georgia, and Miami between April 16-25, 2025.
  • Lewis ultimately chose to play at Villanova for the 2025-26 season.
  • Lewis has now entered the transfer portal and committed to play for Miami for the 2026-27 season.

The players

Acaden Lewis

A 6'2" point guard who spent one season as a 33-game starter at Villanova, averaging 12.2 points, 5.3 assists, and 1.9 steals per game.

Jai Lucas

The head coach of the Miami Hurricanes men's basketball team, who is building an impressive transfer portal class.

Somto Cyril

A chiseled big man who transferred to Miami from Georgia, joining Lewis as part of the Hurricanes' transfer portal haul.

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What’s next

Lewis will have three years of eligibility remaining at Miami and will look to make an immediate impact for the Hurricanes in the 2026-27 season.

The takeaway

Miami is quickly building a formidable roster through the transfer portal, adding experienced talent like Acaden Lewis and Somto Cyril to complement their returning core. Lewis's scoring punch and playmaking ability should provide a significant boost to the Hurricanes' backcourt as they aim to build on last season's NCAA Tournament appearance.