Transfer Guard Sam Lewis Commits to Virginia
New coach Ryan Odom has landed his first transfer recruit since taking over the helm at Virginia. Toledo transfer guard Sam Lewis will be joining the Cavaliers, according to multiple reports.
Virginia has landed Toledo sophomore guard Sam Lewis, source told @TheFieldOf68.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) April 5, 2025
The 6-6 Lewis averaged 16.2 points per game this past season.
Lewis is a 6’6” guard from Chicago. He was Toledo’s leading scorer this season, averaging 16.2 points while shooting 44% from three-point range, on his way to earning 2nd team All-MAC honors. On3 ranks him as the 95th best transfer of the year. He’ll have two seasons of remaining eligibility.
What Sam Lewis Brings to Virginia
Shooting obviously, one of the better three-point shooters available in the portal. Hitting 44% on fairly high volume, that’s elite. With a good size at 6’6”, Lewis is a versatile player as well. Both of those traits fit Ryan Odom’s style. Odom’s teams always rely heavily on the three-point line, and he likes big guards who are switchable and disruptive on the defensive end.
Lewis was part of a fast-paced team at Toledo, which should translate well into Odom’s system at Virginia. He was often used out of position though, as Toledo played lots of small lineups. So, it’s difficult to judge his defensive capabilities, as the role at UVA will certainly be different. And Odom is much more demanding when it comes to defensive effort. That’s probably the top concern, but Lewis certainly has the tools to be sound on both ends. And he's an offensive weapon for sure.
Overall, a really great addition for Virginia. Fantastic start to what will likely be a long list of transfer additions. Little is known about Lewis’s recruitment. I’m not sure if he visited. A report earlier this week included Virginia along with Gonzaga, Villanova, and Xavier among the teams in pursuit. Things moved quickly, that’s for sure.
Virginia’s Recruiting Going Forward
With the addition of Lewis, Virginia is up to five players on the projected 2025-26 roster. He joins a young group. Rising sophomores Elijah Gertrude and Carter Lang along with incoming freshmen Chance Mallory and Silas Barksdale. It’s not even worth posting a scholarship chart yet. Lots of work to do.
We’re still waiting on verdicts from the two VCU transfers that visited last weekend, center Luke Bamgboye and guard Brandon Jennings. Right now, we’re in a dead period, during which there’s no in-person recruiting. Once that lifts on Friday, transfer recruiting goes full throttle. There will be regular visitors in the weeks ahead, until Coach Odom is satisfied with the roster.
Oklahoma transfer guard Duke Miles is reportedly planning to visit, a starter for the Sooners this season. Ryan Odom was down to see Davidson forward Reed Bailey early this week, another potential visitor. Virginia is trying to get a visit from Maryland transfer Rodney Rice. Troy point guard Tayton Conerway, the Sun Belt Player of the Year, has mentioned UVA on his short list.
There are many possibilities right now. Lots of transfers have mentioned UVA interest. We’ll just have to see who the staff is able to line up for visits on the other side of the dead period.
Great Start
Surprise commitments are fun. Especially when fans were starting to panic a little bit. This is a really great addition. It helps Ryan Odom and staff get the ball rolling. And shows UVA is serious about putting together a good team right away. With multiple years remaining, Lewis can be a key piece beyond just next season as well.
Stay tuned to Locker Room Access for full coverage of transfer recruiting.
(Featured Image Credit: Toledo Athletics)