2023-2024 Gatorade Player of the Year For DC: Acaden Lewis

Gatorade today announced Acaden Lewis of Sidwell Friends School is the 2023-24 Gatorade District of Columbia Boys Basketball Player of the Year. Lewis is the first Gatorade District of Columbia Boys Basketball Player of the Year to be chosen from Sidwell Friends School.

The 6-foot-3, 170-pound junior guard led the Quakers to a 27-4 record and both the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference title and the DCSAA Class AA tournament championship this past season. Lewis averaged 14.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.5 steals, and he recorded 16 points, nine boards and four assists in Sidwell’s 47-37 win over St. John’s College High School in the DCSAA title game. He is ranked as the nation’s No. 89 recruit in the
Class of 2025 by Rivals. Lewis has volunteered locally on behalf of We Feed Our People as well as Bread for the City.

He has also donated his time as a youth basketball coach. “Acaden really impressed me this year,” said Chuck Driesell, head coach of the Maret School.

“The things he did were at a high level. I saw for the first time that he is truly a high-major prospect. His size for his position is the most difficult thing to defend. It sets him apart at the high school level.”

Lewis has maintained a B-plus average in the classroom. He will begin his senior year of high school this fall.

Lewis joins recent Gatorade District of Columbia Boys Basketball Players of the Year Malik Mack (2022-23, St. John’s College High School), Darren Buchanan (2021-22, Woodrow Wilson High School), Quincy Allen (2020-21, Maret School) and Terrance Williams (2019-20, Gonzaga College High School), among the state’s list of former award winners.

Meet Acaden Lewis

Q: You’re coming off a stellar year, talk about your grind process to get to this point?

A: My process is a day by day affair, I have a good circle around me through family and trusted mentors that keep me in the gym and always find my weaknesses.

Q: Who are some of your motivations? Why? 

A: My pops and mom are big to me, for every sacrifice I give they are giving 2x or 3x that, time is not free and if they are willing to sacrifice so much of theirs for me I have to repay that. 

Q: Did you expect to win Gatorade Player of the Year? 

A: Throughout the season the thought crept up on me as we kept winning and gaining traction but overall no I didn’t expect it definitely hoped I would though.

Q: Every athlete has a workout process to reach this level of success, what was yours? 

A: My process isn’t really set in stone, some workouts are at 10 pm others are 6 am, I just make sure to stay in the gym consistently every week and think day by day. Lifting and stretching are important as well, longevity is the biggest money maker.

Q: What drives you to want to be the best?  

A: I would say I just love getting better, I enjoy the grind, I enjoy seeing progress throughout out the years. Accolades like this only help me with my process of work.

Q: If you had to choose only one for the rest of your playing career, which would you prefer:  Pure Mid-Range Shooter or Deadly Three Point Shooter?  

A: Deadly three point shooter… more of the landscape of pro basketball.

Q: Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of sports?

A: I like riding bikes, listening to music, and just chilling with my friends whatever that involves.

Q: What do you believe to be one of your weaknesses and what are you doing to improve it? 

A: Need to be more efficient as a shooter and simplify the game when I can, along with that defensively I have to maintain max effort.

Q: What do you see yourself accomplishing in 5 to 10 years?

A: I don’t really know honestly hopefully a lot though, more of a in the moment guy.