Blue Devil Country

Future Duke Basketball Flamethrower Almost Goes for 50 Again

Five-star Duke basketball prize Isaiah Evans seems made for the postseason.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
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North Meck (N.C.) senior wing and top-shelf Duke basketball signee Isaiah Evans is on a mission to show he's the premier prep prospect in the state. That much was clear on Friday night. The 6-foot-6, 170-pound five-star, No. 14 overall and No. 3 among North Carolina talents on the 247Sports 2024 Composite, came up one bucket shy of 50.

And his 48 points, including 21 straight for the Vikings in the third quarter, ensured a 79-63 upset victory at Myers Park. The Mustangs are the reigning 4A state champions, boasting several future high-major college players, and entered the battle on a 23-game winning streak.

But no other player on the floor finished with more than 20 points. No, it was just another in a long line of Isaiah Evans' prolific postseason shows; they include his 62-point performance in a double-overtime win around this time last year, not to mention his clutch outing amid notably loud Tar Heel fans earlier this week.

Now on a 15-game winning streak of its own, North Meck improved to 28-3 this season and will gear up for a semifinal bout against Lake Norman at Wake Forest's Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum at 8 p.m. ET Thursday.

Isaiah Evans is one of two McDonald's All-Americans in the 2024 Duke basketball recruiting class, along with Montverde Academy (Fla.) five-star forward and top-ranked senior Cooper Flagg.

The Blue Devils' impressive haul, which grew to six this week via the pledge from NBA Academy Africa five-star center and potential one-and-done lottery pick Khaman Maluach, ranks No. 1 in the country.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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