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<p><em>As part of our preseason preview content, we're counting down the top 15 candidates for this year's Mr. Basketball award, presented annually to the top senior in the state. Our countdown begins with our No. 15 player, Xavier power forward [player_tooltip player_id='1765554' first='AJ' last='Evans'].</em></p>
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<p><strong>Name:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1765554' first='AJ' last='Evans']<br><strong>Height: </strong>6-8<br><strong>Position: </strong>PF<br><strong>School: </strong>Xavier</p>
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<p><strong>2024-25 stats: </strong>264 points (11.0/game), 181 rebounds (7.5), 28 assists (1.2), 47 blocks (2.0), 18 steals (0.8), 112-198 FG (56.6%), 40-73 FT (54.8%)<br><strong>Career stats: </strong>365 points (7.9), 262 rebounds (5.7), 35 assists (0.8), 65 blocks (1.4), 20 steals (0.4), 155-284 FG (54.6%), 55-112 FT (49.1%)</p>
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<p><strong>About Evans: </strong>A mobile big man who can protect the rim at a high level, Evans is the prototypical modern big man who can run the floor, switch on the defensive end, control the glass, and is working to extend his range. He hasn't made a 3-pointer during his high school career yet, but the form on his jumper looks good and the range could come with ore repetition. His mobility, length, and IQ allow him to defend multiple positions and make him a very valuable asset on the hardwood while his offensive game continues to develop. He has committed to play his college ball at James Madison.</p>
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<p><strong>Why he can win Mr. Basketball: </strong>Evans may not have the career numbers that several other players on this countdown will have, but Xavier will enter the year on the short list of teams who can win it all in Class 3A, and if the Saints are able to get to Championship Friday, it will be in large part because of Evans' impact on the game on both ends of the floor. He has the ability to average a double-double with multiple stocks per game, and putting up those types of numbers, coupled with team success, could garner him some attention.</p>
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As part of our preseason preview content, we're counting down the top 15 candidates for this year's Mr. Basketball award, presented annually to the top senior in the state. Our countdown begins with our No. 15 player, Xavier power forward AJ EvansAJEvans
6'9" | PF
Xavier | 2026 StateIA
.
AJ
Evans
6'9" | PF
Xavier | 2026
State
IA
.
