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Inside The Bears

2027 5-Star Center Lewis Uvwo Spurns Baylor Basketball on Decision Day

What a tough loss.
Trent Knoop|
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

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Baylor Bears

Scott Drew and Baylor were searching for good news on Wednesday as five-star center Lewis Uvwo had his commitment set. Instead of picking Baylor, the center chose Providence.

Uvwo was a massive target for Baylor. The Fort Lauderdale (FL) Prolific Prep. The 6'11", 225-pound center is considered the No. 7 player in the cycle, per 247Sports Composite. Uvwo is also listed as the No. 1 center in the class.

Baylor knows how to land the five-star prospects and Uvwo was expected to be the next in line. Drew has signed a five-star in every class since 2021. In the 2026 class, it was Dylan Mingo who signed with the Bears. Mingo came to the Bears after he decommitted from North Carolina, and he is set to play with his brother Kayden this season.

Scouting Uvwo

Heading into next season, Uvwo will arguably be the best freshman paint defender in basketball. His 7'6" wingspan allows Uvwo to block shots with ease and will make him a force in the paint.

His offensive skill set still needed to be improved, but his defensive skills can't be undersold. Baylor was the projected team to land the five-star heading into Wednesday.

Here is 247Sports' Adam Finkelstein's scouting report:

"Uvwo is a truly elite defensive prospect. It starts with his physical tools. Standing at 6-foot-10 with a nearly 7-foot-6 wingspan, he has massive length. More than that though, he’s also a tremendous athlete. He runs, jumps, and changes direction with ease and fluidity...Uvwo’s ability to block shots is virtually unmatched in high school basketball. He averaged 4.5 blocks per game in EYBL play, not only amassing whopping volume, but showing versatility in the way he can protect the rim.

"Offensively, he’s farther away and raw, but not without long-term tools to develop. His day one role will be as a rim-runner, lob threat, and offensive rebounder (2.8 per game). He also has solid hands and touch though. He catches cleanly and may have some potential to develop facing the basket (61% free-throw shooter). There are some flashes of footwork, but right now he’s not a decision-maker (0.4 assists vs. 1.1 turnovers) or someone you want to have the ball unless it’s immediately clear what he’s doing with it."

What Uvwo's commitment means for Baylor

With Uvwo picking Providence, Baylor will start back at square one, trying to find someone to play alongside Jamison. He is a top-40 guard and it's clear the Bears are hoping to find a legit big man to pair up with him.

Center Juslin Bodo Bodo could return to Waco next season and that would solve Baylor's big man problem. But still, having a player like Uvwo on the team is no easy loss.

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Trent Knoop
TRENT KNOOP

Trent is the Publisher of Baylor Bears on SI and also serves as the Managing Editor for Michigan Wolverines on SI. His work has additionally been featured on Maryland on SI, Wisconsin on SI, and across the USA TODAY Sports network. Trent’s love of sports and being able to tell stories to fans is what made him get into writing.

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