Southern California is dwelling to most of the high 2026 highschool ladies basketball prospects within the nation.
In Ventura County no junior is being extra closely recruited than Buena’s Karisma Lewis and, true to her identify, she is constructing her model with a basketful of ability and a charismatic character that makes her enjoyable to observe and compelling to hearken to.
The 5-foot-10 combo guard can do all of it on the courtroom — drive, submit up, hit from lengthy vary, crash the boards and dish the rock — and faculty scouts are taking discover.
Lewis, ranked No. 50 in ESPN’s Tremendous 60 for the category of 2026, has already acquired Division 1 gives from Oregon, Utah, Colorado, Florida, Gonzaga, Mississippi State, Arizona State, Lengthy Seashore State, Nevada Las Vegas, Brigham Younger, UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara, but she retains her focus the place it needs to be — successful basketball video games.
“I’ll be making my decision closer to my senior year,” she stated. “I’m grateful to be connecting with such awesome coaches and their programs. I’m watching their current games to see where I can be a future impactful role in their style of play.”
Lewis has poured in 20 or extra factors 14 occasions this winter, together with 32 towards Palisades on the Santa Barbara Event of Champions in December. She is averaging 24 factors, six rebounds, three steals, two assists and one blocked shot per recreation and has the Bulldogs climbing in Southern Part polls.
Basketball and being a Bulldog are within the blood for Lewis, whose mother Melissa performed at Buena and now works within the Faculty and Profession Heart at her alma mater, getting to observe her daughter stick with it this system’s successful custom. Together with the genes, nevertheless, Lewis has a aggressive spirit and a piece ethic that exceeds her friends, coaching three hours a day within the weight room and on the courtroom.
Karisma Lewis has proven the flexibility to not solely shoot from distance, however drive, dish, rebound and play within the submit.
(Steve Galluzzo / For The Instances)
“Yes, she played at Buena under coach Joe Vaughan and graduated in 1999,” Lewis stated of her mother, additionally her largest supporter. “She put me in basketball when I was 4 on a boys YMCA team and I just grew from there.”
Lewis turned comfy within the highlight at an early age and that serves her nicely in hostile gyms the place followers are chanting “overrated!”
“At 7 or 8 she wanted to do acting and modeling, she’s always had that strong work ethic, and she did a shoot with H&M down in Cabo,” added Melissa, who goes to all of her daughter’s video games. “I said that I need to get you ready to share with the world. I named her Karisma and it’s tough to live up to that but she is.”
Not solely are her pivot strikes and step-back threes one thing to see, so to are Karisma’s double pony tail and trademark purple Nike sneakers, which squeak loudly each time she dribbles previous her defender on the way in which to the ring.
Lewis is aware of a factor or to about advertising and marketing. Sure, her efficiency on the courtroom speaks volumes, however she additionally has a weekly podcast on Spotify known as “1v1 me with K-Rizz,” the place she offers updates on being a typical teenager whereas below the stress of turning into a high basketball participant.
Visitors have included previous teammates, present teammates, intense rivals and her mother. It’s proper up her alley, as she needs to main in sports activities and broadcasting.
“Me and my mom came up with that idea last year,” stated Lewis, who has a 3.5 grade-point common. “Something to highlight local girls basketball as it doesn’t get a lot of attention. I haven’t had time to devote to that lately, so I have to get back to it.”
For somebody who turned 17 in September there’s a lot on the plate, however Lewis attracts inspiration from George Albanez (her private coach since seventh grade) and her autistic brother L.J., who performed soccer at Buena and have become the homecoming king of his class.
Does Lewis have aspirations of being homecoming queen?
“No, I’ll stick to basketball,” she stated. “That’s what I’m known for.”
Karisma Lewis is congratulated by teammates as she heads to the bench. She is ranked No. 50 in ESPN’s Tremendous 60 for the category of 2026.
(Steve Galluzzo / For The Instances)
Vaughan retired following the 2006-07 marketing campaign because the state’s winningest ladies basketball coach, posting a 761-112 report over 32 seasons, successful two state championships, six CIF crowns and 27 Channel League titles, together with 11 in a row from 1976 to 1987. Present coach Trevor Payan hopes to make this system a powerhouse once more.
“This is my third year at Buena and Karisma is the hardest working player I’ve ever coached,” Payan stated. “She knew at a young age that she wanted to be a Bulldog. She’s so versatile, she can finish inside and out. She’s somebody who truly loves playing the game and anyone who meets her and sees her play can see that. She’s had multiple offers and so far this season we’ve had Mississippi state, Gonzaga and TCU coaches at practice to come watch her.”
Lewis began as a freshman, averaged 20 factors and 9 rebounds and led the group to its first playoff win since 2016. As a sophomore she once more averaged 20 factors and helped the Bulldogs earn a share of their first league title since 2010 and surpassed the 1,000-point mark in her profession throughout a playoff victory over Holy Martyrs. Buena misplaced within the subsequent spherical to Santa Margarita in Division 2A.
Buena (16-3) hosts crosstown rival Ventura (18-1) within the first of two key Channel League conferences Tuesday evening. The Cougars are paced by level guard Kailee Staniland, who performs on the identical AAU squad as Lewis, who had a season-high 33 factors in Saturday’s 65-45 win at San Marcos.
“One thing that stands out about Karisma its her shot creating ability — being able to create space off the dribble and get anywhere on the court that she wants to,” Payan stated. “Her teammates love her. They’re all local kids who grew up together in the Buena area and choose to stay at their neighborhood school.”
Final summer season Lewis performed with different native ladies for 805 Household on the Energy 24 Circuit whereas coached by Albanez and Kenny Plummer, touring to tournaments everywhere in the nation.
Payan believes, just like the collee coaches who come to see her in motion, that Lewis can shine on the subsequent degree.
“There’s no doubt in my mind she will succeed,” he stated. “Her work ethic on the court matches her work ethic in the classroom. She doesn’t back down from a challenge and is willing to do whatever it takes for the team to be successful.”
