The mid-August headlines were a game-changer for Alabama’s basketball program.
Though nobody expected Collin Sexton to be here this season, his missing offensive punch would leave a void in Avery Johnson’s attack. So, when top recruit Kira Lewis enrolled a season early, at least some of that production would take the form of another young No. 2.
Through 17 games, the 17-year old has been a consistent scoring presence. His 14.2-point average leads the team, as does his 38.2-percent success rate from 3-point range and his 84.1 free-throw percentage.
The Hazel Green High School product hasn’t been made available to comment much on his season before Monday afternoon. Previewing the 8 p.m. CT Tuesday visit from Ole Miss, Lewis took some time to reflect on his freshman campaign.
Lewis described the season as “great so far” with the expectation of improvement to come. That comes with confidence.
“When I got here, I didn’t know what to expect,” Lewis said. “From the level of competition to the physicality, but like I said, as time went on, I just got more comfortable and more comfortable.”
Lewis opened with a modest six-point game in the opener against Southern before dropping 21 on Appalachian State in the second game. He’s hit the 20-point mark four times while scoring at least double figures in 12 of 17 games.
The best stretch spanned six games starting with Wichita State on Nov. 26 through the Dec. 18 return to Huntsville against Liberty. Lewis had the other three 20-point performances in this stretch including a 24-point night against Wichita State and 20 in a win over Murray State and star guard Ja Morant.
There were a few teachable moments along the way, too.
Lewis missed the first of two foul shots in the closing seconds against Texas A&M that could have made it a three-point game. After making the second, Aggie T.J. Starks hit a running 3-pointer at the buzzer for an 81-80 Alabama loss.
“After the Texas A&M game, a couple guys texted me telling me to keep my head up,” Lewis said. “We have a long SEC schedule ahead of us, so I just kept coming in and kept working.”
Just making the move to graduate from Hazel Green High School a year early was challenging for a player who could have been one of the top prospects in the nation this season.
Coach Avery Johnson credits Lewis’ parents for being a strong influence in making the transition a year early.
“It was tough because I really didn’t know how to take things,” Lewis said. “I had decisions to make but I had a relationship with coaches and players and I just trusted them. And so far, it’s been great.”
Johnson went on to describe the approach to leading a player who is among the youngest in the nation.
“I just try to spend a lot of quiet moments with him behind the scenes,” Johnson said. “Just watching film, talking to him and making sure he’s in the right frame of mind and give him the opportunity to ask some questions. … Just managing him. We don’t handle him with kid gloves, but at the same time, you have to understand each one of your players and what buttons to push and how to communicate with them.”
Lewis will have his hands full with a talented Ole Miss backcourt coming to Tuscaloosa on Tuesday night.
The Rebels (14-3, 4-1 SEC) have Breein Tyree (17.5-point average) and Terence Davis (16.2 ppg). Ole Miss’ only loss since late November came last week when LSU left Oxford with an 83-69 win.
Michael Casagrande is an Alabama beat writer for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.