Corey Evans leaving Rivals to take scouting job with Thunder

Corey Evans, arguably the top basketball recruiting analyst in the game, is leaving his job at Rivals to join the Oklahoma City Thunder staff as a scout.

After weeks of rumors in recruiting circles that Evans was on his way out, Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports officially broke the news this afternoon that the Thunder will bring him on as an amateur scout at a time where evaluating high school prospects is “at a premium.”

“The Oklahoma City Thunder are hiring Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Corey Evans,” Thamel reported. “Evans, 30, is a highly respected national evaluator for Rivals who built a reputation as one of the most connected young analysts in both high school and college basketball.

“Evans’ job with the Thunder is expected to be as an amateur evaluation scout. Thunder general manager Sam Presti’s move to bring on Evans comes at a time when the evaluation of high school prospects is at a premium, as a new pathway to professional basketball has been created through the NBA G League via high school.”

This move comes just months after Evan Daniels – also seen as one of the best in the recruiting game – left his position at 247Sports in June to pursue a new opportunity with CAA Sports in its basketball coaching division. Back in 2013, the San Antonio Spurs also took a chance on former recruiting analyst Dave Telep to take over as the franchise’s draft scouting coordinator. He has since been promoted to Director of Player Personnel.

After beginning his career by starting his own scouting service, Roundball Rundown Report, in 2012, Evans has developed a reputation as one of the best scouts and well-connected analysts in the world of basketball recruiting. He has held his job at Rivals since 2017.

(Yahoo Sports)