Photo credit: Katie Goodale-USA TODAY Sports
Duke Basketball Recruiting: Isaiah Evans Hushes Tar Heel Fans
It looks as though North Meck (N.C.) senior Isaiah Evans, a frequent visitor this season to his future bucket-getting home in Cameron Indoor Stadium, is deep in UNC-Duke basketball rivalry mode as the No. 9 Blue Devils (24-6, 15-4 ACC) gear up to host the No. 7 Tar Heels (24-6, 16-3 ACC) on Saturday night.
In Tuesday night's 4A state playoff battle at Mount Tabor, the 18-year-old Evans encountered an opposing student section featuring a bunch of loud fans sporting UNC basketball gear, presumably geared at getting inside the head of the Duke recruiting prize.
Evans, a 6-foot-6, 170-pound wing and McDonald's All-American who ranks No. 13 overall on the 247Sports 2024 Composite, repeatedly answered their heckling. He did so via six made threes, deft playmaking, and clutch defensive efforts while sending various gestures, including fiercely competitive claps and chest thumps, their way:
The long-limbed five-star, drawing comparisons to former Duke one-and-done and current New Orleans Pelicans star Brandon Ingram, finished the contest with 22 points. And Evans delivered a timely block, ensuring the 45-42 win to advance North Meck (27-3) to Friday night's quarterfinal bout at Myers Park (27-2).
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Evans is one of five 2024 Duke basketball signees, along with a fellow McDonald's All-American in five-star forward Cooper Flagg, plus five-star center Patrick Ngongba II, five-star forward Kon Knueppel, and four-star forward Darren Harris.
Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke basketball recruiting news.