KJ Evans says Kentucky is "leading the charge" as Oregon emerges

On3 imageby:Jack Pilgrim05/04/22

Kwame Evans Jr. has arguably the highest ceiling of any prospect in the class of 2023. Standing 6-foot-10, 200 pounds, he’s a long forward who runs the floor well and uses his size to swat shots and finish around the rim. What separates his game, though, are his perimeter skills and shooting touch from deep.

He’s a true stretch four in high school and likely at the collegiate level. As he continues to grow and fill out, though, Evans sees himself as a three in the NBA.

“Just me doing it all, really,” Evans told KSR at Nike EYBL Session II in Indianapolis. “… I’m a four right now, at least until I get my body right. Then I’m going to be a three.”

Modeling his game after the likes of Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum and Brandon Ingram, Evans’ versatility has college coaches lining up to earn his commitment. He cut his list to five back in April, with Auburn, Indiana, Kentucky, Oregon and UCLA remaining in contention.

Arizona and Miami (FL) have since entered the picture with new scholarship offers, pushing his list back to seven schools. It’s Oregon and Kentucky, though, that have garnered the most buzz in his recruitment,.

“Kentucky is still leading the charge, really trying to talk to me a lot,” Evans told KSR. “Auburn is coming in there. UCLA, Indiana and Oregon, definitely, they’re coming to practices, coming to see me up here.”

Oregon is the program picking up the most attention right now, especially coming off an official visit to Eugene this past weekend. Evans didn’t deny his genuine interest in the Ducks, adding that the coaching staff and NIL make Oregon an intriguing option.

“I think it comes from how often they come to see me and how highly I talk about them in every interview I do,” Evans said of the Oregon chatter. “The school, I like. The coaching staff there is really good, they’re really cool. I like the relationship I’ve made with all of them. Nike up there, NIL is crazy, Mookie (Cook) talks to me about them a lot. It’s crazy, really.”

What about Kentucky? Evans appreciates John Calipari’s hands-on approach, reaching out to the five-star forward directly.

“It’s crazy because John Calipari is the one that’s texting me a lot, which is crazy to even think about,” Evans told KSR. “It’s really good. He’ll be saying happy holidays sometimes, just checking up on me, telling me to keep working a lot. When he sees me, we dap each other up, talk for a second. I talk to the assistant coaches, as well.”

Calipari views Evans as the perfect stretch-four option in Kentucky’s offense, an all-around versatile threat.

“They want me at the four,” he said. “I can do it all, really, but that’s what they’re saying to me right now.”

What is he looking to improve?

“I need to get better with my motor and energy level every time I step on the floor,” he added. “My aggressiveness.”

Evans says he will look to make a decision “sometime after Peach Jam,” with no other visits scheduled at this time.

Oregon has the majority of buzz right now — there are a combined five Crystal Ball and FutureCast picks favoring the Ducks — but Kentucky is fighting.

Will the Wildcats be able to land the top-five prospect in the senior class?

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2024-03-28