ACC Basketball's Top 100 Returning Players: No. 100 Jay Lewis

Welcome to start of the ACC’s Top 100 Returning Players. In fact, we’re at No. 100. Yep, right at the beginning. Let’s not waste any time. We’ll get started with a walk-on in Raleigh.

Player: Jay Lewis

Position: Combo Guard

Team: North Carolina State

Year: Junior

Tape: 6'2", 200 lbs.

2010-11 Stats: None

Deep Thoughts

I know what you’re thinking—who? Hey, we’ll get to the big names soon enough, but when we’re doing a “top 100” list we’re going to be scratching the bottom of some of these ACC rosters. Let’s accept this and move on.

Jay Lewis walked on in 2010-2011 and with Ryan Harrow, Lorenzo Brown and Javier Gonzalez on the roster, the best he could hope for was the scout team. However, with Gonzalez graduating and Ryan Harrow transferring to Kentucky, suddenly the Wolfpack had no point guard and Lewis was unexpectedly bumped up the depth chart.

Luckily for new coach Mark Gottfried, he can simply shift shooting guard Lorenzo Brown over. He’s a natural scorer, but he does have point guard experience from high school and he certainly has the skills to handle the job.

On top of that, Gottfried caught a break when Cal State’s PG, Alex Johnson, who graduated with a year of eligibility left, picked North Carolina State. This gives State a legit, experienced backup. This also puts Jay Lewis back on the scout team in 2011-2012.

So why is he on this list?

The fact is, injuries happen and if either Lorenzo Brown or Alex Johnson go down for an extended period of time, you can bet your sweet ass that either Jay Lewis or Ben Amos will see some action.

As for Lewis, I don’t know too much about him. I do know he’s not the most athletically gifted guard, but he’s got good size and bulk. At the very worst, I could see him earning five or six minutes per game if others get hurt.

Check out No. 99 on our list.