In a decision shaped by both personal tragedy and practical considerations, Blake basketball standout Joshua Lewis has reopened his recruitment after initially committing to South Florida, where his father Fred once starred during the program’s NCAA Tournament appearances in 1990 and 1992.
The decision comes in the wake of USF head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim’s unexpected passing last October at age 43 from surgical complications. The loss deeply affected the Lewis family, who had formed a close bond with Abdur-Rahim during the recruitment process.
“It’s still something we’re dealing with as a family,” said Fred Lewis, who serves as Blake’s head coach. “We were really fond of Amir and we were really excited about Joshua going out there and developing and having him so close to be able to watch him. It threw our family for a loop.”
The 6-foot-7 junior, who helped lead Blake to their first state championship game appearance since the school’s 1997 reopening, has emerged as one of the most promising prospects in the 2025 class. His impressive averages of 16.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game have earned him a four-star ranking from ESPN and attention from major programs nationwide.
While USF remains in Lewis’ top two or three schools, the current uncertainty surrounding the program’s coaching situation has prompted the family to explore other options. The Bulls promoted assistant Ben Fletcher to interim head coach, but the lack of long-term stability is a significant concern.
“We still love USF but stability is one of the biggest things and concerns,” Fred Lewis explained. “That’s why we decided to open up the recruitment. I’m hoping for the best for that staff and they can get a long-term contract and really make the decision tough for us.”
Joshua has narrowed his choices to five schools: Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina State, USF, and Virginia Tech. The family aims to make a final decision before March 24, when the transfer portal window opens — a timing strategy reflecting the modern realities of college basketball recruitment.
“A lot of colleges are standoffish late in the year on freshmen because they’re so invested in the transfer portal,” Fred Lewis noted, explaining their accelerated timeline.
For Joshua, the decision transcends traditional recruiting factors, carrying emotional weight from the loss of a mentor he had come to view as family.
“It was tough,” he said of Abdur-Rahim’s passing. “I’m still dealing with it today. He wasn’t just a coach to me. He was like a family member. We developed a great relationship in the year and a half that I got to know him. I’m dedicating this season to him, but I’ve got to keep moving forward.”
The story of Lewis’ recruitment reflects the evolving landscape of college basketball, where program stability, transfer portal dynamics, and personal relationships all play crucial roles in shaping these life-changing decisions.
For the Lewis family, finding the right balance between honoring connections to USF and securing Joshua’s future continues to be a thoughtful process.
