Acaden Lewis is giving himself some time, and some options, after an incredible freshman year with the Villanova Wildcats. He announced on Sunday that he’ll enter the NCAA transfer portal while also declaring for the 2026 NBA Draft.
Acaden Lewis Heads to the Transfer Portal After All-Big East Season
Lewis played all 33 games this season and ended up doing a little bit of everything in Villanova’s backcourt. He averaged 12.2 points, 5.3 assists (a team-high), 3.0 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game. The points came regularly, but as the season settled in, it was the way he ran everything calmly that started to stood out most.
He wasn’t perfect, as he shot 27% from three, but he was reliable with the ball and handled pressure well for a freshman.
NEWS: Villanova’s Acaden Lewis intends to enter the transfer portal, per multiple reports.
The 6-2 freshman guard and Washington, DC native averaged 12.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg and 5.3 apg for the Wildcats. Was a unanimous selection for the Big East All-Freshman team. pic.twitter.com/QkuTuADlX8
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) April 5, 2026
In the Big East, Lewis played big minutes against experienced guards. He finished second in the league in assists per game and his 63 total steals ranked third in the conference.
His 176 assists and 63 steals were both a Villanova freshman record. He had the ball a lot, and Villanova trusted him to make decisions, even late in games.
MORE: College Basketball 2026 Transfer Portal Tracker: Complete List of Players Who Are Available
In February, he scored a career-high 26 points and dished out 6 assists in an 80-73 road win over Georgetown.
By the end of the season, the 20-year-old received All-Big East Second Team honors and finished runner-up for Freshman of the Year (while being a unanimous selection on the Big East’s All-Freshman Team).
He came into Villanova as a four-star recruit out of Sidwell Friends in Washington, D.C., and emerged as the lead guard pretty soon after. That usually comes with some ups and downs, but he handled it well.
Now, he’s taking the route a lot of players do by entering the transfer portal while also testing the NBA draft waters. It gives him a chance to hear directly from NBA teams while still having the option to return to college, whether that’s at Villanova or somewhere else.
Villanova did want to keep him and they forwarded a strong NIL offer, but it looks like Lewis wants to explore what’s out there. He’s the first Villanova player this offseason to enter the portal or declare for the draft. Either way, he’s holding all the cards now.
