Prospect Spotlight: Joseph Evans (2018)
Currently Iowa’s 33rd-ranked 2018, Joseph Evans has been given that high ranking without even playing a lick of varsity ball yet with Dowling. But the 6-foot-8 forward continued to impress with his great length and leaping ability at the…
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Continue ReadingCurrently Iowa’s 33rd-ranked 2018, Joseph Evans has been given that high ranking without even playing a lick of varsity ball yet with Dowling.
But the 6-foot-8 forward continued to impress with his great length and leaping ability at the Prep Hoops Top 250 Expo last weekend in Ames. And again, his high-ranking — based largely on potential — was warranted.
And though he’s been playing a big for the majority of his young career, he made it clear during our conversation at the Expo that he’d like to play more of a stretch-four — or even small forward — rather than center.
“For the most part I like to play on the outside and drive to the hoop,” said Evans. “I think I have some pretty good vision on the court, I do well with that, I can hit the wide-open guy if he’s there.”
He played with Martin Brothers 16U, one of the state’s best squads, and was backing up Jason Taylor in the post, but says he also got some experience playing on the perimeter.
“I played OK, I could have played better though. When I was with them they put me more on the perimeter for the most part.”
His coach with the Martin Brothers, program director Hank Huddleson, agrees with Evans’ philosophy that he could become more of a stretch-four versus a center.
“I envision him also being able to play Division II to mid-major (D1) basketball, and it depends on what he wants to be: does he try and be a three, does he want to be a four? He’s not a block player, he’s not a true three. I see him as a four-man that can do a variety of different things,” said Huddleson.
His junior season at Dowling is just on the horizon, and Evans wants to lead his guys this season, while producing on the perimeter and in the paint.
“I was the five for the sophomore team last year, and they just needed me to look for people who were open and score, and then be a shot-blocker too,” said Evans. “I’m probably going to be small forward this year, and I’ll be a big role player and provide some shooting, and just continue to work on my shot.”