Fred Lewis Jr., a 6-foot-4 guard from Bayshore Christian whose father played on USF's NCAA Tournament teams in 1990 and 1992, said Saturday that he will attend USF this fall and hopes to join Stan Heath's team as a walk-on.

"It's Division I, and the competition is going to be great," said Lewis, who averaged 24.6 points per game and earned third-team all-state honors as a senior.

Lewis could have played at Division II Tampa or at Saint Leo, where his father, Fred Lewis Sr., is an assistant coach, but instead he'll try to make it at USF. He has not been assured of a roster spot, and said he's been told by USF's assistant coaches that the Bulls will carry two walk-ons, with Heath's son Jordan already in one of the spots. Lewis said he's been going to open gym at the Sun Dome twice a week for six weeks and has been "pretty good" in playing with USF's current players.

Lewis said he needs to add some weight -- he's at 185 pounds right now -- and wants to work on his jump shot. His father said the chance for his son to improve his game with the Bulls would be a great opportunity.

"He thinks he can play Division I ball, and I feel that way as well," said Lewis, who remains in USF's career top 10 in blocks, steals, field-goal percentage and free-throw percentage. "This is a way to get a taste of a big-time program, and he'll get coaching from Coach Heath."

USF opens practice today -- three months earlier than most college programs -- in the first of 10 workouts allowed in preparation for next month's trip to Brazil. If Lewis were to join the team, he would not do so until normal preseason practice starts in October. USF's pre-Brazil practices are not open to the media.