March performances can often unfairly skew an overall evaluation, but for a potential role players like Evans, proving how he can contribute to winning deep into the NCAA tournament could certainly continue to boost his stock.
Evans has come a long way since arriving in Cincinnati as a "little chubby 17-year-old kid, wide-eyed, wanting to learn," according to the Louisiana native who comes from a football family and military background. The former RSCI No. 125 recruit has made incremental improvements every season, and he is playing more on the ball as a junior, regularly initiating offense in the half court. Evans grew up playing on the ball since he first started taking basketball seriously in eighth grade, and that shows in his feel for the game and sound overall court vision.
"I try to study everybody," Evans said. "I don't want to just be a shooter. I don't want to just be a rebounder or a defender. I want to be a basketball player. Basketball player you gotta be able to dribble, pass, shoot and defend and also rebound."
While the improved on-ball skill is a plus (17.9 percent of his offense coming in pick-and roll, according to Synergy), Evans figures to make the most impact at the NBA level as a spot shooter and defender in the 3-and-D mold. He can be a bit streaky as a shooter, but he has excellent balance and rotation on his jumper, which has shown in his 40.9 3-point percentage on 4.4 attempts per game, his second consecutive season over 40 percent. Evans can also make occasional isolation pull-ups against switches, but he plays mostly at one speed and isn't the most dynamic shot creator or finisher, as evident by his 47.9 2-point percentage.
Defensively, Evans is tough and competitive, with the lateral quickness to guard 2s and some 1s, and the frame to check big wings as well. His size, length and strength allow him to slide up in smaller lineups and guard 3s and 4s without too much of an issue, which gives him great versatility in today's NBA. The Bearcats rank second in the NCAA in defensive efficiency according to Kenpom.com, and Evans figures to carry that with him at the next level.
"My dad, he was in the military. Discipline, that was key," Evans said. "I love coaches like [Mick Cronin], being tough on you. That brings the best out of you, especially if you can be strong-minded." --Mike Schmitz
Evans is basically the prototypical Snyder player.
