Blue Devil Country

Future Duke Basketball Forward Has 'Underrated Quality'

Duke basketball signee Isaiah Evans is more than just a potent scorer.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Katie Goodale-USA TODAY Sports
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North Meck High School (N.C.) senior Isaiah Evans is a premier bucket-getter. The 6-foot-6, 170-pound wing proved as much in the spring, dropping 62 points in a playoff game and averaging 43.8 points throughout the postseason. But the five-star Duke basketball recruiting prize doesn't limit himself to finding the bottom of the net.

"It's an honor to welcome Isaiah to 'The Brotherhood,'" second-year Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer said in the video below to introduce the newly minted Blue Devil signee to the fanbase. "Isaiah comes from the state of North Carolina...plays for one of the great basketball coaches in the state in Duane Lewis [at North Meck].

"Isaiah is ultra-skilled, very competitive, but really, he's versatile on the court. He can score and shoot with the best of them. He has great size for the position he plays, and he's going to be somebody that can do a lot of things when he gets to Duke."

Scheyer, boasting the nation's top-ranked recruiting haul for the second time across his three cycles calling the shots for the Blue Devils, sees a budding facilitator in Evans.

"His most underrated quality to me is his ability to pass," Scheyer noted in the video about Isaiah Evans, who ranks 13th overall and third among North Carolina prospects on the 247Sports 2024 Composite and committed to Duke in April. "He's a really good passer, can make others better, and I can't wait to welcome him and his family to Duke in the fall."

He'll be alongside at least four other Duke basketball rookies next year: Montverde (Fla.) five-star forward Cooper Flagg, Wisconsin Lutheran five-star forward Kon Knueppel, Paul VI Catholic (Va.) four-star forward Darren Harris, and Paul VI Catholic five-star center Patrick Ngongba II.

All five attended Duke's Countdown to Craziness together back in October.

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Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke basketball recruiting news.

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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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