By JACOB POLACHECK
ATLANTA — Five-Star forward Kwame Evans Jr. is one of the most highly-touted recruits in the nation with high-major programs hot on his trail.
The 6-foot-9, 200-pound power forward from Montverde (FL) Academy, is being heavily recruited by the likes of Kentucky, Duke, Oregon, Texas and Indiana, among others.
“A lot of schools have been talking to me,” Evans said. “They’ve been recruiting me hard. It’s going to get more ramped up, so it is what it is right now.”
Evans took his first official visit to Kentucky from Nov. 5-7, but says he has no other visits planned currently.
“The coaching staff, how hard they want their players to go far,” Evans said of his Kentucky visit. “They earn their respect like they earn their spot on the floor, so that’s what I like.”
Evans is one of seven players on Montverde’s roster that was named to the 2021-22 Naismith Trophy Player of the Year watchlist, alongside Skyy Clark, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Vincent Iwuchukwu, Dillon Mitchell, Malik Reneau and Dariq Whitehead.
“I think KJ, again, because of the amount of talent we have, he’s going to end up being a great, great player,” Montverde head coach Kevin Boyle said. “He’s so versatile. He has the ability to guard multiple positions. He handles the ball. He shoots the ball. Again, he’s going have a really good season this year. Next year, he’ll blow up into one if not the premier all-around player, prospect in the country. With his versatility, he’s got a made-for-the-NBA type game.”
Ranked by 247Sports.com as the No. 2-ranked prospect in the class of 2023, Evans has played a three-and-D type role on this loaded Montverde roster.
“I can handle the ball as well, so pretty much that’s what I do,” he said. “I can also get to the rim, so I can pretty much do it all.”
Looking ahead, Evans says he wants to improve his ball handling and motor, while also getting stronger physically.
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