High School Spotlight: Duke Commit Isaiah Evans
The Duke Blue Devils bring in elite recruiting classes every season, replenishing talented rosters year-over-year as the team produces NBA talent that moves on.
In Duke's incoming recruiting class for next season, the most anticipated player is of course Cooper Flagg — the top high school recruit in the country and the projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
As good as Flagg is and as much attention that he will get during what will likely be a single season with the Blue Devils, another name that NBA teams will continue to monitor is Isaiah Evans.
An absolutely lethal scorer, Evans is a walking mismatch as a 6-foot-7 wing who possesses self-creation upside and a playmaking skillset. He's often compared to former Duke wing and current New Orleans Pelicans star Brandon Ingram, which is completely reasonable if you've watched both of their offensive games.
Evans has extremely long arms and uses that length to create advantages against smaller opponents. He's also one of the most passionate athletes in this class, playing with a contagious energy that is very loud on the court. He also boasts extreme confidence and plays with a chip on his shoulder, which makes him an even more exciting prospect.
"No one in this area can guard me one-on-one," Evans said in an interview this week.
With a three-level scoring package, it would not be surprising at all for Evans to earn significant minutes as a true freshman and have regular scoring outbursts. He is without a doubt a lottery talent, assuming he adapts well to the college style of play and can continue to develop his wiry frame.
The 6-foot-7 wing has deep range that makes opposing defenders pick him up well above the break. That allows Evans to break down defenders who play too aggressively and get to the midrange or straight to the rim. However, when his defender doesn't pick him up early enough, he has a quick trigger and will make them pay with a deep triple and a high release that makes it difficult to alter his shot.
Again, he will need to get stronger to really reach his ceiling, but even now Evans is a disruptive defender. That energy and passion he plays with results in often being in the right place at the right time and his effort generally results in good things happening on that end. He has learned how to jump passing lanes and has natural feel for the game on the defensive side of the ball.
Overall, Evans is one of the most exciting players entering the collegiate ranks next season. He will have the chance to prove he is worthy of a lottery selection in the 2025 NBA Draft as he plays alongside Flagg in Durham.
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