Will 5-star power forward Kwame Evans pick Oregon today?
Tuesday could potentially mark a monumental moment for Dana Altman’s Oregon basketball program.
At noon PT, 5-star power forward Kwame Evans Jr. will announce his college commitment on Instagram and all signs are pointing toward the 6-foot-10 star choosing Oregon.
According to the On3 Consensus, Evans Jr. is the No. 5 player in the class of 2023. He would be the second-highest ranked recruit to ever commit to Oregon, according to 247 Sports.
Less than a week ago, it was thought by most industry experts that Evans Jr. was headed for Arizona. But on July 29, On3’s Jamie Shaw placed an expert pick into On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM) for Evans to Oregon.
As of today, Shaw has raised his confidence to 95 percent. He explained why in an in-depth article on Monday.
At this point, Oregon’s 2023 class includes one pledge — West Linn (Ore.) point guard Jackson Shelstad.
Earlier this year, the Ducks landed a commitment from 4-star small forward and Jefferson, Ore., native Mookie Cook. But Cook de-committed and reopened his recruitment a few months later.
That doesn’t mean he’s closing the door on playing for Oregon, though. Shaw has reported that Cook and Evans have spoken about playing together, and Shaw recently placed an expert pick with 45 percent confidence for Cook to recommit to Oregon.
We’ll find out in a few hours where one of the nation’s top players intends to spend his college career. Head to the ScoopDuck forums for up-to-the-minute updates and join the discussion.
Here’s On3’s high school scouting summary on Evans, and what he could potentially bring to Oregon.
“It’s the length with Evans, his arms seemingly go forever and he continues to grow. There is so much there with his game, it is understandable how he can still be putting it all together. Evans has ball skills to re-initiate offense or grab and go off the rebounds. He has excellent vision, as teams are able to play through him from a stationary position in the half-court. Evans is a reliable spot shooter when his feet are set. While he is athletic, there is not a lot of pop in his game, but his enormous wing span makes up for a lot of that. He is great in the passing lanes and has excellent timing as a shot-blocker. He will need to continue adding strength, but that will come as he is still young. The upside is huge and the light is coming on.“
