Recruiting is a constant effort in the NCAA, even in the height of summer. While the AAU season ended a few days ago, some high school students from the class of 2023 are taking advantage of the slack period that is looming in August to announce their future university, before attacking their final “high” season. school”.
This is the case of interior Kwame Evans Jr. and leader Chris Johnson, who in recent hours have announced their commitment to Oregon for the first, and Kansas for the second.
Ranked 7th in the Top 100 of 247sports in 2023, Kwame Evans Jr. is a 3/4 position of 2m06 for 90kg, who can carry the ball to his position, and sanction on “catch-and-shoot”. Defensively, he has physical arguments that suggest a high potential in this exercise, but will have to expand physically to really weigh in at the university level, then possibly professionally.
« I chose Oregon because I felt it was the best possible path to the NBA. The staff made me a priority, and I felt a family environment during my visit [sur le campus]. » he also said regarding his choice to join the Ducks.
At last month’s EYBL Peach Jam, Nike’s AAU season finale, he tallied 10.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game, earning an All-Second Team selection.
It should be noted that the Ducks had also signed Mookie Cook earlier in the season, who is ranked 4th in 2023. The winger had subsequently disengaged from the program, but might well confirm his link with the Ducks once more, now that Kwame Evans Jr. is part of the equation…
Chris Johnson is a leader, who stands at 1m96 and who is ranked 30th in 2023. Athletic and explosive player, he shines for the time being by his ability to attack the circle, and to finish there.
The development, or not, of his shot, will be the factor that will more or less raise his ceiling as an NBA “prospect”. But before that, he should be an effective conductor in the attack on Bill Self.
“It was the culture of the program that attracted me” did he declare regarding the reasons behind his choice to join the defending champions. ” And that was my favorite team growing up. Above all, it was the program that wanted me the most, of all the programs that recruited me. »
He averaged 19.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5 assists last year, during the “junior” season in high school.
For the record, Kwame Evans Jr. and Chris Johnson will be teammates next season, for their “senior” season at the famous high school academy in Montverde, Florida.