BUTLER TWP — The desire has always been there. So has the ability.

Now health and confidence have joined the party — and Justice Lewandowski is blossoming as a basketball player.

The 6-foot-5 Butler senior forward is averaging 11.6 points per game, has canned 21 treys and is shooting 86 percent (31 of 36) from the free throw line through the Golden Tornado's first 12 games this season.

“That's not even the tip of the iceberg as far as what he's going to do on the court,” Butler coach Matt Clement said. “Justice is only now realizing what his capabilities are in this game.”

Lewandowski underwent micro-fracture knee surgery in April of his sophomore year. That cost him developmental time over the summer.

He spent much of his junior season setting up for his 3-point shot, awaiting someone to get him the ball. Lewandowski only started a few games last year.

“I didn't feel I was totally back health-wise until the second half of last season,” Lewandowski admitted. “I know my confidence wasn't where it needed to be.”

Now that's all changed.

The son of former Butler varsity basketball coach Joe Lewandowski, Justice has played for his father's AAU team, the PK Flash, during the summer months.

That team — consisting of many of the WPIAL's best players — finished among the top four in three of the most competitive tournaments in the country last summer. The PK Flash placed fourth out of a 175-team tourney in Manheim, near Philadelphia.

“He gained a lot of confidence playing with and against some of the top talent out there — and realizing he could play with them,” Joe Lewandowski said.

Clement agreed.

“In the past, Justice would watch those guys from Lincoln Park and other schools drive to the basket while he stood outside the arc with his hands set, waiting to get the ball and shoot,” Clement said. “This summer, he joined his teammates in slashing and driving toward the basket,

“He's become a complete player.”

Joe Lewandowski said his son “could always shoot.” Finally gaining confidence in the stability of his knee helped the rest of his game come along.

“Getting to the rim and finishing is what he's capable of doing,” Lewandowski's father said. “Besides the increased confidence, he's worked hard in the weight room. He's gotten bigger and stronger.

“The points aren't always going to come. But there's assists, rebounds, other ways to help the team. And the defense is always going to be there.”

Lewandowski consistently guards the opponent's top scoring threat and wins that battle more often than not — and without fouling.

He spends more time on the floor than pretty much everybody in a Butler rotation that runs as deep as 12 players at times.

“Defense is a big part of my game and I love it,” Lewandowski said. “It's a way to help the team every game and I consider it a challenge.”

“We keep him on the floor because he doesn't foul and he's always effective defensively,” Clement said. “He's too big and strong for guards to handle and he's tall and strong enough to take on forwards down low.”

Carrying a 3.9 grade point average, Lewandowski plans to major in mechanical engineering in college. He's receiving interest from a number of schools, including Division 1 programs Robert Morris, St. Francis and Loyola, Penn State Behrend, Chatham and other smaller schools.

“He'll take whatever the best fit is, academically first, then in basketball,” Joe Lewandowski said. “You go where you're gonna play.”

Lewandowski has hit as many as five treys in a game this year. He began the season with three successive games of 15 or more points. He was named MVP of the eight-team Peter Sauer Memorial Holiday Tournament at Shady Side Academy.

And he knows he's not done.

“I know I can take the ball to the hoop more often,” Lewandowski said. “I just have to do it.

“But it's great playing basketball with these guys. We read each other well on the court. We've all been playing together since fourth grade.”

Clement said Lewandowski has progressed through old-fashioned hard work.

“There were times in the offseason, during non-mandatory weight room workouts, I'd have three sophomores and Lewy show up,” the coach said. “He never stops working. He never gets tired.

“Justice has trained his body —and he does it the right way, by working hard. His respect and dedication to this sport is incredible and he's as coachable a kid as I've ever worked with.

“He is an outstanding person, leader and player. That kid deserves everything he's getting,” Clement added.