DISTRICT HEIGHTS, Md. – The college recruiting process started early for Aalyiah Lewis. The talented Bishop Ford point guard had college offers dating back to her sophomore year, starting with Rutgers, and they have continued to roll in.
“It’s kind of pressure with all the phones calls that I get,” the 5-foot-4 rising senior said. “The time is coming close. The window is narrowing down.”
Lewis, who has played her travel ball with Ring City since the program began when she was 13 years old, can see the end nearing. She has narrowed her list of suitors down to a top five of St. John’s, Seton Hall, Virginia Tech, Syracuse and Florida State. Others could be added if a school comes along that interests her.
The 18th-ranked point guard in her class by Hoopgurlz has only made one unofficial visit, to Seton Hall, and hopes to make more after the live period is over. She wants to commit before her senior season starts at the Brooklyn school.
“I just want to go to a school that I feel at home, be comfortable and have a nice relationship with the coaches” she said.
The All-City First Team selection by The Post spent this summer adapting to more of a half-court system than she is used to at Ford with Ring City coach John Blackgrove. The Staten Island native wants to prove she can do more than just score.
In college, after all, she will need to be even more vocal and be a leader on the floor. There has been a give and take beween Lewis and Blackgrove.
“When you have someone with the speed that she has, I have to let her go a little bit,” Blackgrove said. “I can’t hold the reigns back all the time.”
Lewis showed her advanced skill-set at the USJN/Nike National Championships this week despite Ring City losing in the opening round of the Diamond playoffs on Tuesday. She is a blur in transition, finishing breaks with 3-point plays and sweet dishes all while moving at top speed. Lewis has quick hands on defense, is looking to gain consistenty with her streaky jump shot and has proven to be clutch late in games. Her off-balance runner led Ford to its first ever CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens Division I title game last season.
“She has explosive quickness and commands a lot of respect on the floor,” Blackgrove said.
College coaches have noticed, all the way back to her sophomore year. Now it’s up to Lewis to decide where she wants to go.