Here are my notes on Jacob Evans from the game vs Wichita state on March 4th:
Jacob Evans vs Wichita state
-first offensive possession - in the corner... post entry pass, gets it back and shoots it. His shot looked quick. Scores.
-looks alert on D - makes the right rotation... tries to put body on an opponent but doesn't connect and allows offensive rebound.
-Dunks in transition. Good explosion.
-great help defense under the basket, makes the Wichita State center to pass it out to Shemet, sprints to the perimeter in a textbook closeout and doesn't let him take the shot - REALLY NICE. I'm loving his D so far.
-good extension and jump on a rebound from missed FT
-plays off ball on offense.
-seems a little bit upright defending on ball, another good closeout though... in control, doesn't overrun it, puts hand up and still in good position to defend potential drive
-a bit lackadaisical in transition D, gets beat down the court over the top
-first position on ball at the 14 minute mark. Runs PnR and throws an entry pass in the post to his big.
-another ballhandler possession - runs a PnR and pulls up from 3. Doesn't look natural handling the ball and trying to playmake so far. Not sure if he has the handle and the quickness/wiggle to create?
-ill-advised pass in transition.
-gets fouled on a spot up 3 from the corner. misses 2 of them
-very nice length to steal the ball from an offensive player from the outside - runs the fast break, but doesn't hurry, keeps his guy on his back... gets to the paint and gets fouled for and 1. converts it.
-Cincinatti do an interesting thing on D when their wing players get switched on a big in the post - they double to swith back. It's almost an artificial double without a purpose, since it lasts just about a second until the big establishes good defensive position
-not too impressed with his speed both on ball and off-ball offensively, he tries to run around screens but doesn't get open.
-hm, interesting between the legs step back 3 attempt - bricks it but it didn't look horrible
- spots up for 3 in transition on the wing... airballs it.
- some more betewen the legs dribbles, doesn't get separation, gives it up
- runs pick and pop for his big who misses the 3.
- isos from the top of the key, between the legs drible, goes left, spins right for the layup, this wasn't bad. Not sure it works against NBA defender though.
-got stuck on a screen off-ball, left Shamet wide open, lucky he missed
-stays with Shamet on-ball, his long arm prevents a shot and forces pass to the outside
- spot up 3 from 25 feet from top of the key - goes in. His shot looks good, nice elevation... not as natural as Huerter's shot, but still looks projectable to the NBA.
-For as ambivalent as I've been with his offense he surely is racking up points - he's at 14 right now at the end of the first half.
-drives after some weaves on the perimeter, jumpstops and tries turnaround jumper off the glass - bad miss.
second half:
- relocates well on the 3p line after his defender lost him and finds an open space at the left wing for a 3 - misses.
- again - left open for 3 - misses from the right wing this time.
- hand off, entry pass to the post... gets it back at the 3, misses again.
- got injured it seems going for a rebound. knee on knee?
- got back in the game with 12 minutes to go - good alertness on D, instructs teammates on switches
- gets the ball on the elbow off a screen... pounds the ball and uses his body to clear space in the lane jumping forward, misses the mini-hook.
- gets switched on a big on D. Fights for position but allows the pass 7-8 feet from the basket right block. The big tries to shoot over his left shoulder - BLOCKED by Evans. Really nice timing and good length to get the clean block.
- another nice possession on D - good timing helping on a driving opponent , strips the ball away
- drives and uses a jumpstop to convert with a mini-hook again. Seems like it's his go to move.
- got stuck on a screen and allowed Shamet drive to the basket where he got fouled.
- he doesn't look right moving on the court, maybe it's the injury. I'm not sure if this game is representative.
- isolates vs a big - a couple of dribble moves lulls his defender and step backs for the 3 - scores.
- taken out of the game with 6 minutes to go(seems like injury related).... and gets back in the game with 5 to go. He looks gimpy... limps a bit... game is tied, commendable that he wants to help his team even in this condition
- runs pnr, tries to pull up for 3 off the pnr, loses it on the way up.
-50 seconds to go, they give him the ball, try to run PnR that turns into iso, doesn't have the shake and quickness to create separation, gives up his dribble and passes it off with 8 seconds on the clock and gets it back... wide left to right dribbles, pump fakes his defender who flies by and launches a flotery shot that misses.
-Wichita state can't score on final possession - Cincinatti wins.
Summary: I'm not sure how much to take out of this since it seemed like he got injured at some point in the second half and he might have carried another injury from a previous game. For whatever it's worth:
Offense: I don't think he has the quickness, wiggle and shake to be an on-ball player. He has some rudimentary dribbles that look alright and he has a step back that he uses but IMO it doesn't look great and I wouldn't be comfortable giving him this type of possessions in the NBA. Go to move seems to be drive in the lane and jumpstop into a floater/mini-hook/turnaround jumper when he gets to about 6-8 feet from the basket. His stats suggest that he is a good passer with over 3apg from the wing, which is nice, BUT I didn't see much of it in this game, the majority of passing I saw was entry passes to the post and swing passes around the perimeter. His shot looks good and has a quick release. It should be projectable to the NBA. I don't think he does things on ball on high enough level to project him as a secondary ball-handler... IMO he is strictly 3&D prospect at this point.
Defense: This is where the main value comes - he is alert and gives effort. Seems like a smart player with great instincts and timing both on his help defense and on his jump to contest shots. Very good length and good strength to defend even against some bigs in the low post. The thing I'm a bit dubious about is his ability to beat screens, but this might be due to the injury he sustained. He got stuck on more than is ideal. I wouldn't say he's pesky defender and I'm not sure he has the quick twitch athleticism to pressure the ball. I don't think I saw him do it once and if he did it, I can see him getting beat.
