Pack recruit shines at Gibbons TOC

N.C. State recruit Tyler Lewis earned his national reputation as one of the top point guards in his high school class because of his ability to pass and handle the ball.

You might want to add scoring to Lewis' can-do list.

Lewis scored 47 points in Team Loaded's 90-81 win over Garner Road on Saturday at the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions.

Lewis, a 5-11 point guard from Statesville, out-shone Garner Road star, and Pack target, T.J. Warren, who poured in 41 points in defeat. The two friends traded points in an unusually contentious summer circuit game.

"That was an intense game," Lewis said. "Those are the kind of games you like to play in."

Lewis' Team Loaded, based in Richmond, Va., won each of its first two games by the 20-point mercy rule. Garner Road led 46-44 at the half, despite 24 first-half points from Lewis, in part because Warren pumped in 21 himself.

Warren, a 6-7 wing from Durham who's ranked No. 39 in the class of 2012 by ESPN analyst Dave Telep, hit a variety of jumpers, most of which never even touched not the rim on the way through the net.

Warren couldn't keep pace with Lewis in the second half. Lewis' twisting bank shot through traffic with 2 minutes left put Team Loaded up 81-72 and effectively put the game away.

"I just had to do whatever it took to win," Lewis said.

Through the first three games, Lewis averaged 29.6 points and 7.3 assists per game.

State fans will have to wait one more year for Lewis, who has one year left at Forsyth Country Day school.

New Wolfpack coach Mark Gottfried has Lewis and Torian Graham, a top 25 guard, lined up for the class of '12.

Warren said Gottfried offered him a scholarship last week to play for the Wolfpack. Warren's father, Tony, played for State in the late 1970s.

Lewis hopes to see Warren on the court again.

"Hopefully, next time we'll be in the same jersey," Lewis said.