Marcus Evans
The Arizona Wildcats, who have had two freshmen declare early for the NBA Draft, still have plenty of recruiting to do.
One of the possibilities for coach Sean Miller is high-scoring Rice transfer guard Marcus Evans, a two-time first-team All-Conference USA player who has two years of eligibility left. He would have to sit out next season.
Evans announced his intention to transfer after Rice coach Mike Rhoads left to become the head coach at VCU. That school is one of three finalists to land Evans, the others Arizona and Miami, according to his tweet on Thursday night.
Want to thank all schools who have recruited me but I'm down to 3 ! pic.twitter.com/3rUPf6oHDO
— Ⓜ️arcus Evans♨️ (@Marcus_Evans12) April 7, 2017
Evans (6-2, 195) is originally from Chesapeake, Va. He averaged 21.4 points per game as a freshman and 19.0 as a sophomore at Rice. He made 37.6 percent of his 3-point attempts last season (86 of 229) for a team that went 23-12.
Arizona has lost forward Lauri Markkanen and guard Kobi Simmons to the NBA Draft. As of now, the Wildcats have seven scholarship players for next season:
–Senior point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright
–Senior center Dusan Ristic
–Senior forward Keanu Pinder
–Junior forward/center Chance Comanche
–Junior guard Allonzo Trier
–Sophomore wing Rawle Alkins
–Sophomore guard Dylan Smith
Arizona signed four players in the spring, giving Miller 11 scholarship players for next season — two below the limit … as of now.
Trier still has to announce a decision whether to turn pro or not. There has been no definitive word with Alkins. Comanche, according to one report, will “test the NBA waters” without hiring an agent, meaning he can return to school after gathering further information about his prospects.
Source: Arizona big man Chance Comanche will test the NBA waters, but won't initially sign with an agent.
— Evan Daniels (@EvanDaniels) April 5, 2017
Even Ristic could end up skipping his final season and turning pro overseas.
A lot to digest still. Evans is a possibility to stash for the 2018-19 season. Arizona is on the list for Duke transfer big man Chase Jeter. The Wildcats are still pursuing some freshmen, including five-star wing Brian Bowen.
