The Orlando Magic are in need of a point guard somewhere. If the team is looking to add some depth, Jawun Evans showed a strong scoring ability in college.
The Michigan Wolverines were pulling away in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Wolverines, one of the hottest teams in the country heading into the Tournament, seemed like they were continuing that hot streak.
Then Jawun Evans hit.
Quickly the second half deficit evaporated with every Evans drive to the basket, trips to the foul line and attack on the basket. Evans began hitting jump shots and tearing up Michigan’s defense.
In the way that NCAA Tournament games go, momentum was fully on Evans and the Oklahoma State Cowboys’‘ side. The only question was whether there was enough time. Evans had his team on his back and nearly carried them to victory in a 92-91 defeat.
Evans’ final stat line was perhaps the best of his two-year career in Stillwater. He posted 23 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds, making 10 of 26 shots. Evans was the unquestioned star of the game. He simply could not get his team over the top in the end.
That was much of Evans’ season and career at Oklahoma State. He was the engine driving the Cowboys’ offense, but just unable to get the team over the top.
Orlando Magic
He finished his stellar sophomore year averaging 19.2 points per game and 6.4 assists per game. Evans was the driver and engine for the team. He showed a quick first step to getting to the basket, averaging 6.0 free throw attempts per game.
Evans is just about everything anyone would want from a point guard. A great first step, a knack for getting to the basket and scoring. Even a 3-point shot, making 37.9 percent of his 3-pointers on 3.0 attempts per game. There are few on-court reasons not to consider Evans as part of the top point guards in this draft.
The only issue is his size. At 6-feet, 175 pounds, Evans is a bit undersized. He struggles to finish at the rim, despite his ability to get there often. That is something that is tough to overcome at the NBA level.
Just because Evans does not fit the profile of a NBA point guard does not mean he will not be successful. He has all the other skills it would seem he would require to make a NBA roster.
The proof is in the way he played and the numbers he put up last season. Late in the first round, there are few players who could get the job done quite like Evans.
The Good
When it comes to offensive ability, Evans is right up there with the other point guards in this draft. He averaged 19.2 points per game last year, getting to the line for 6.0 free throws per game. That showed an ability to get into the paint and draw contact, important skillsfor a modern point guard.
He is a confident shooter, making 37.9 percent of his 3-pointers on 3.0 attempts per game.
Evans seems to have the complete package offensively. Especially for a modern point guard.
Give him some space, he will step back and hit the jumper confident. Let him get downhill or isolate him, and he will get into the paint and cause the defense to collapse. Collapse on him, and he can dish out and make a play for the next man.
Evans’ offensive game is not limited to his scoring. He averaged 6.4 assists per game and posted a 43.6 percent assist rate. It was his second straight year with an assist rate greater than 40 percent. This with a 32.7 percent usage rate.
Oklahoma State put the ball in his hands and let him create. He carried that heavy burden well. The Cowboys were a tournament team.
He did all this while keeping his turnovers down — 2.8 per game, which is good considering his high usage. Evans is a quintessential point guard in that way. He
Evans is a quintessential point guard in that way. He can survey the court and attack it, able to get into the paint. That is the big task for a point guard in the NBA today — get past the initial wave of the defense and force teams into help situations. Then all he has to do is be able to get the ball back out to the perimeter.
Evans has a variety of moves that get him into the paint. That is where he made his living throughout the last season. And clearly, the scoring was good for him.
The Bad
So why is Evans considered a borderline first round pick or a late first round pick? Why is he not among the top prospects?
Evans for all his speed, athleticism and ability just could not finish consistent enough at the rim. He can drive into the lane and break players down off the dribble, but he struggles to finish all the time. HIs efficiency is just not at the level a team would want for a top star. It works in college. . . but the pros are a different level.
Some of this has to do with his height. Evans is 6-feet tall and that lack of size hurts him as he gets into the paint. Evans often has to throw up floaters to get shots near the basket. He is not great finishing with his left hand, sometimes leading to awkward scoop shots.
That does not mean he cannot finish all the time, but it made him inefficient once he got to the basket if he could not draw a foul. Evan’s biggest offensive weakness is just that — his inefficiency.
That inefficiency spread throughout his game.
Evans shot just 43.8 percent from the floor last year. Certainly, some of that came because he had such a high usage rate. He took 15.1 field goal attempts per game last year. That was not the concern.
Oklahoma State Cowboys Basketball
But even his effective field goal percentage — 47.5 percent — and true shooting percentage 53.5 percent, leave something to be desired. it is unclear just how good a shooter he can be in spot up or what happens when you take the ball out of his hands. He is not a good enough shooter to unleash fully as an on-ball threat.
As with all drivers, the question is whether he can do all of this at a NBA level. And without elite-level finishing or athleticism, it is hard to say exactly how Evans translates.
His size is his biggest hindrance. The question is whether he can take the hits and bumps in the NBA. And his ability to finish will become tougher at the next level with his size.
Evans is very good and a good scorer, but he is not particularly elite at any skill. The numbers look good, but translation will be his biggest test as he enters the NBA.
Draft Sites Say
Josh Riddell & Julian Applebome, DraftExpress
"Oklahoma State ran a pick and roll heavy offense with 56.3% of Evans’ total derived offensive possessions (which includes shots, passes, fouls drawn, and turnovers) ending as the pick and roll ball handler according to Synergy Sports Technology. He showed that he is comfortable attacking the ball screen in a variety of ways, whether by rejecting the screen to get into the lane or forcing a switch to attack a big man off the dribble. He gets into space with a creative change of pace and impressive downhill quickness to bend the defense, and he should be able to seamlessly make the transition to a NBA style offense as he led the most efficient offense in the country primarily through his pick and roll attack."
NBADraft.net
"After a promising freshman season cut short by injury, Jawun Evans came back and further established himself as both a dynamic scorer and distributor in the college ranks … Evans really has a good understanding of operating in the pick and roll, as well as artfully using screens to get a good shot … His ability to run an offense, understand spacing, and create for others will directly translate to the pro game. . . . Defensively Evans will have trouble at the next level … While 5’11.5’’ in shoes he does sport a nice wingspan, but he’s not overly strong for his size, nor is he an elite athlete … His effort is a plus, though, but he’ll be easy to shoot over in the NBA."
Chris Stone, The Step Back
"Evans averaged 26.2 points and 8.7 assists per 40 minutes while finishing with a 7.7 Offensive Box Plus/Minus score, which tied for the 15th highest mark nationally. It would be hard to get more out of a point guard than what he gave the Cowboys as a sophomore. Given those top level numbers, there has to be an elephant in the room that is holding Evans back from being considered among the top prospects in the 2017 class. There is. He measured just 5-foot-11.5 at the Nike Basketball Academy in 2016, which obviously puts him on the smaller end for an NBA player. Only 18 players 6-foot tall or shorter suited up for NBA teams this season. While three of those players — Chris Paul, Isaiah Thomas and Kyle Lowry — were among the best in the league, there is simply a lower margin for error with smaller players at the next level. Many of Evans’ successes and shortcomings can be traced back to his height."
Final Word
Jawun Evans is a very intriguing and potentially productive player for the late first round. He clearly has the scoring ability to make it in the NBA. He can score in any number of ways and has good control over the game as a point guard. Oklahoma State put the ball in his hands with free reign and he produced for himself while keeping others involved.
Most importantly, he has that one skill point guards in the league need — the ability to get into the paint. Evans can break down defenders off the dribble and get past the initial wave to get to the basket. That will serve him well and get him a look at the NBA level.
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The questions that come next will help him determine what kind of player he can become — whether that is more than just a bench player or potentially something more.
For now, Evans clearly can carve out a role as a developing backup point guard. He has shown enough ability to create his own shot and get into the paint to be a useful player.
Evans, though, will still have a lot of work to do. And the odds will be against him in some ways.
His size will hinder him, especially if he continues to struggle to finish in the paint and at the basket. It may also be a hindrance to him defensively.
But this is where his ability to draw and absorb contact will prove valuable too. If he can get to the foul line like he did in college, he will find usefulness. Evans can score and put the ball in the basket. He still has work to do to bring himself up to a NBA level.
But the talent is undoubtedly there.
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If a team is looking for a backup point guard late in the first round, Evans is a solid option to pursue.