Jacob Evans III
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Weaknesses & Concerns:
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Report by: Mark Wahlen
Profile:
Strengths:
Physical Tools
Jacob Evans has prototypical physical tools for an NBA guard, standing at 6’5.5” in shoes, with a 6’9.25” wingspan and weighing 200 pounds (9% body fat). His size is comparable to current NBA players such as: Iman Shumpert (6’5.5” tall, 6’9.5” wingspan), E’Twaun Moore (6’4” tall, 6’9.5” wingspan, 191 pounds, 9% body fat), Will Barton (6’6” tall, 6’9.75” wingspan), Victor Oladipo (6’5.25” tall, 6’9.25” wingspan), D’Angelo Russell (6’5” tall, 6’9.75” wingspan), Buddy Hield (6’5” tall, 6’9.25” wingspan) and DeAndre Bembry (6’5.75” tall, 6’9.25” wingspan). Evans could use to put on some more muscle weight, especially in his lower body, but overall he’s got a good foundation of physical tools to work with.
Defense
Defense is arguably Jacob Evans best skill. He’s a high motor defender that’s not afraid to take on defensive challenges or fight through screens. Only allowing 0.308 points per possession (PPP) on runners this past season (96th percentile): is a good example of his effort level: when he’s beaten off the dribble, he works hard to get back into position and contest shots from behind, even if he has to fight through a screen to get there. He also does a good job of getting up into the body of defenders and has very active hands. His 1.3 steals per game (1.1 STL’s per game average for his career) and 2.8% steal percentage (career 2.4%) is a strong indicator of his defensive activity level. For comparison: his 2.8% steal percentage is tied for 32nd best amongst all NCAA players that played at least 1,100 minutes this past season (232 total players). And he’s able to do this without fouling much, only averaging 2 fouls per game this past season (career average of 2 fouls per game). He’s also a good off ball defender that makes smart defensive rotations and is a good defensive communicator that’s capable of directing traffic. Across the board, Evans has strong defensive numbers; allowing 0.903 PPP when defending spot up shots (58th percentile), 0.686 PPP when defending the pick & roll (P&R) ball handler (67th percentile), 0.683 PPP when defending in isolation (67th percentile), 0.438 PPP when defending post-ups (97th percentile) and 0.462 PPP when defending hand offs (89th percentile). This speaks to his effort, engagement, defensive IQ and overall defensive versatility and skill. And although his athleticism and lower body strength will likely limit his defensive abilities slightly in the NBA (more on this later), he projects to be at least an average defender in the NBA. But it wouldn’t be surprising to see him become a plus defender at the next level.
Shooting
Evans is an above average shooter, averaging 1.012 PPP on spot up shots (69th percentile), 1.091 PPP on all catch & shoot shots (63rd percentile), 0.737 PPP on medium ranged (17’ to <3 point line) shots (54th percentile) and 1.104 PPP on 3 point shots (68th percentile on 4.5 3PA’s per game, shooting 37% 3P%). He’s a much better spot-up shooter than he is when shooting off the dribble (1.012 PPP, 69th percentile on spot ups vs. 0.772 PPP, 48th percentile when shooting off the dribble), but that’s mostly related to his struggles of getting his shot off against defenders when attacking off the dribble (more on this later) than anything else. Overall, his shot mechanics are solid, having good and consistent footwork that allows him to stay balanced with a decent release speed & height. He can get turned sideways a bit and tends to fade a bit more when shooting off the dribble, but his mechanics stay pretty consistent regardless of where he’s shooting from on the floor (this speaks to his overall above average shooting numbers). His free throw shooting of 75% (career 76%) is a strong indicator of his solid shooting mechanics. And while he may never become an elite shooter in the NBA, he should be a respectable one. His collegiate career shooting number averages are probably close to what his theoretical maximum shooting %’s could be in the NBA if things go well for him: 38% 3P%, 76% FT% and 48% 2P%. If he can hit those shooting numbers in the NBA, he’ll be a valuable guard for teams in the league for many years to come.
Positional Passing
He doesn’t have amazing vision, but Evans is a smart and capable passer. He knows where the ball needs to go within a system and is capable of getting it there accurately and on time. His career average of 2.5 assists per game (season high being last season at 3.1 assists per game) and 1.3 TO’s per game speak to his passing capabilities and IQ. At times, he can get a bit lazy with his passes or force the issue when the defense is taking away an option, but it doesn’t happen often enough to be a major concern. He’s also capable of making basic reads and passes out of the pick & roll, especially to the roll man. This past season, all of Evans’ passes out of the pick & roll averaged 0.987 PPP (54th percentile, 68 FGA’s) with his passes to the roll man resulting in 1.281 PPP (85th percentile) and passes to cutters scoring 1.273 PPP (55th percentile). This may be an area of his game that NBA teams can take greater advantage of at the next level as an untapped sill. Teams could potential use Evans as tertiary or even secondary ball handler to run secondary pick & roll options or even primary ones as a more prominent ball handler in second units. Joe Ingles of the Utah Jazz and Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics are both good example of the potential role Evans could fill as secondary or tertiary ball handler for an NBA team as a rotational off guard. It will likely take some time and further development for Evans to fill this type of roll, but it’s well within his reasonable outcomes. But if nothing else, Evans should be a player that coaches can trust to make good & smart passes within an offense.
Shot Creation Upside
Evans has a fairly basic handle, but it’s better than advertised, and he may have some untapped potential there. He didn’t get to create a lot within Cincinnati’s system, and he works best as a scorer when working off screens (on or off the ball), but he has shown a solid array of ball handling moves. He loves to use in and out or hang dribbles, especially when coming screens, and has a basic crossover and hesitation dribble. And although he prefers to go right, he’s capable of going either direction. When given the chance to create in isolation this past season, he wasn’t half bad, averaging 0.811 PPP on all isolation scoring attempts (53rd percentile, 29 FGA’s). Although, it should be noted that he struggles to get to the rim off the dribble (more on this later), so almost all of his 29 isolation-scoring attempts came from jumpers (18 of the 29 attempts). He’s much better at getting to the basket with the help of screens, scoring 1.154 PPP as the P&R ball handler on drives when using the screen (71st percentile). Regardless, this is an aspect of his game that teams will want to take a longer look at and explore more in pre-draft workouts.
Basketball IQ
Alluded to earlier, Evans is a high level thinker on the court and makes good reads on both ends of the floor. On offense, he understands the importance of spacing and where openings will be as the defense reacts to the offense. He’s also an active off ball mover that does a good job at putting himself in the right spots to receive or make good passes. His scoring off screens (1.0 PPP, 63rd percentile) and on cuts (1.5 PPP, 95th percentile) is, in part, an indicator of this. He really gets lost or caught out of position on offense or defense, and should be a player that coaches can trust to play within a given game plan.
NBA Ready
Along the same lines as his basketball IQ, Evans has a very mature game. He won’t make a lot of mental mistakes and he doesn’t try to play outside of himself or the system. He understands how to play a role within the context of a team structure and can execute game plans at a high level. This aspect of his game should translate well to the NBA, and should enable him to be an instant contributor on many teams.
Intangibles
Lastly, Evans has a strong intangibles profile. He plays with a very high motor and engagement level throughout games on both ends of the floor. He’s a great teammate that communicates well and comes across as very coachable. He’s also not afraid to mix it up in a physical game, showing a lot of toughness, especially against bigger opponents, as he doesn’t allow himself to get bullied around despite some strength shortcomings. He’s not afraid to crash the boards (career 4.3 total rebounds per game) and runs the floor well: all indicators of his motor and toughness. He’s also well spoken off the floor and has history of improvement.
All these factors make for a strong intangibles profile that will bode well for him at the next level.
Weaknesses & Concerns:
Upside?
Evans is already 20 years old (about to turn 21) but has plateaued in his production the past couple seasons (almost identical numbers across the board). So the question is: how much upside is left in his development arc? Does he have another step? His play style, production the last couple seasons, physical tools & average athletic ability seem to indicate that he’s close to his theoretically maximum talent level. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as he’s done a good job maximizing his talent up to this stage in his career. But teams will question whether or not Evans has much left in his upside tank.
Strength?
He’s a high motor player who plays with a lot of toughness, but Evans lacks some strength, especially in his lower body. He can get bumped off his spots on drives to the basket a little too easily, and he can struggle to back down smaller players. He can also struggle to finish through contact at the rim at times, although his 1.219 PPP on scoring attempts around the basket (non post-ups, 68th percentile) is a promising indicator of his rim finishing abilities. His high motor and toughness make up for a lot of his strength differences, but he’ll be more exposed in the NBA going up against even bigger, stronger and more athletic players. It would do him well if he could add another 10 or 15 pounds of muscle to his frame, specifically in the lower body.
Athleticism?
Evans is an average, not great athlete. Similarly to his strength decencies, his basketball IQ and high motor make-up for a lot of his athletic short comings. But he can struggle to finish over the top of length or through contact at the rim. And while he can play above the rim, he can only do so in space. He also has a hard time turning the corner on defenders when handling the ball due to his lack of high-level quickness. His first step is just ok, but he’s capable of attacking closeouts. Looking at his combine showing this year, Evans posted a 35.5” max vertical, with a 28” standing vertical. Not terrible numbers, but not great either. They’re comparative to current NBA players such as: Robert Covington (36” max vertical, 27” standing vertical), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (34.5” max vertical, 29” standing vertical), Doug McDermott (36.5” max vertical, 28.5” standing vertical) and Rodney Hood (36” max vertical, 29” standing vertical). In his athletic testing, Evans posted a ¾ court sprint time of 3.2 seconds, a shuttle run time of 3.13 seconds and a lane agility time of 11.11 seconds. These numbers are comparable to current NBA players such as: Trey Burke (3.16 seconds ¾ court sprint, 3.14 seconds shuttle run and 11.2 seconds lane agility) and Josh Hart (3.2 seconds ¾ court sprint, 3.15 seconds shuttle run and 11.15 seconds lane agility). Again, these are just about average numbers.
Advanced Ball Handling & Shot Creation?
As mentioned earlier, Evans has a fairly simple array of ball handling moves, and lacks more advanced techniques. His lack of quickness limits his ability to create off the dribble more than anything else, but he could use to tighten up his handles a bit as he gets a little high and loose with his dribble at times. His lack of strength also makes it difficult for him to handle the ball under pressure or in traffic, although it’s not a huge weakness of his. But as a projected rotational guard, teams will want to see if Evans can do more with the ball in his hands.
Floater Game?
Another concern about Evans’ game is his lack of a floater game. This past season, he only attempted 19 runners/floaters, scoring 0.632 PPP on those shots (33rd percentile). With his difficulties getting to the basket off the dribble, it will be important for him to add more to his floater game. Although, he’s a decent mid-range jump shooter (1.014 PPP, 68th percentile), so that will help him a bit.
NBA Fit: Coming soon!
Draft Range:
Draft Range:
The appeal of Jacob Evans to NBA teams will be his well-rounded and mature game as a guard/wing combo. He’s more of a guard than a wing, but he should be able to play some spot minutes at the 3 in smaller lineups. His defense, shooting, passing, high IQ and motor will be especially appealing to non-lottery teams that are looking to add more depth to their already established rosters. And while his average athleticism and seemingly lower upside will cause some teams to pass on him for higher upside picks, he’s a solid player that has everything to be a multi-year rotational guard in the NBA.
Projected Draft Range: 17 to 30
- 20 year old (almost 21 year old) guard from the University of Cincinnati
- Hometown is Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Son of Chatman-Evans (who played point guard at Grambling) and Jerry Evans
- Ranking out of high school: 130th (4 star recruit)
Strengths:
Physical Tools
Jacob Evans has prototypical physical tools for an NBA guard, standing at 6’5.5” in shoes, with a 6’9.25” wingspan and weighing 200 pounds (9% body fat). His size is comparable to current NBA players such as: Iman Shumpert (6’5.5” tall, 6’9.5” wingspan), E’Twaun Moore (6’4” tall, 6’9.5” wingspan, 191 pounds, 9% body fat), Will Barton (6’6” tall, 6’9.75” wingspan), Victor Oladipo (6’5.25” tall, 6’9.25” wingspan), D’Angelo Russell (6’5” tall, 6’9.75” wingspan), Buddy Hield (6’5” tall, 6’9.25” wingspan) and DeAndre Bembry (6’5.75” tall, 6’9.25” wingspan). Evans could use to put on some more muscle weight, especially in his lower body, but overall he’s got a good foundation of physical tools to work with.
Defense
Defense is arguably Jacob Evans best skill. He’s a high motor defender that’s not afraid to take on defensive challenges or fight through screens. Only allowing 0.308 points per possession (PPP) on runners this past season (96th percentile): is a good example of his effort level: when he’s beaten off the dribble, he works hard to get back into position and contest shots from behind, even if he has to fight through a screen to get there. He also does a good job of getting up into the body of defenders and has very active hands. His 1.3 steals per game (1.1 STL’s per game average for his career) and 2.8% steal percentage (career 2.4%) is a strong indicator of his defensive activity level. For comparison: his 2.8% steal percentage is tied for 32nd best amongst all NCAA players that played at least 1,100 minutes this past season (232 total players). And he’s able to do this without fouling much, only averaging 2 fouls per game this past season (career average of 2 fouls per game). He’s also a good off ball defender that makes smart defensive rotations and is a good defensive communicator that’s capable of directing traffic. Across the board, Evans has strong defensive numbers; allowing 0.903 PPP when defending spot up shots (58th percentile), 0.686 PPP when defending the pick & roll (P&R) ball handler (67th percentile), 0.683 PPP when defending in isolation (67th percentile), 0.438 PPP when defending post-ups (97th percentile) and 0.462 PPP when defending hand offs (89th percentile). This speaks to his effort, engagement, defensive IQ and overall defensive versatility and skill. And although his athleticism and lower body strength will likely limit his defensive abilities slightly in the NBA (more on this later), he projects to be at least an average defender in the NBA. But it wouldn’t be surprising to see him become a plus defender at the next level.
Shooting
Evans is an above average shooter, averaging 1.012 PPP on spot up shots (69th percentile), 1.091 PPP on all catch & shoot shots (63rd percentile), 0.737 PPP on medium ranged (17’ to <3 point line) shots (54th percentile) and 1.104 PPP on 3 point shots (68th percentile on 4.5 3PA’s per game, shooting 37% 3P%). He’s a much better spot-up shooter than he is when shooting off the dribble (1.012 PPP, 69th percentile on spot ups vs. 0.772 PPP, 48th percentile when shooting off the dribble), but that’s mostly related to his struggles of getting his shot off against defenders when attacking off the dribble (more on this later) than anything else. Overall, his shot mechanics are solid, having good and consistent footwork that allows him to stay balanced with a decent release speed & height. He can get turned sideways a bit and tends to fade a bit more when shooting off the dribble, but his mechanics stay pretty consistent regardless of where he’s shooting from on the floor (this speaks to his overall above average shooting numbers). His free throw shooting of 75% (career 76%) is a strong indicator of his solid shooting mechanics. And while he may never become an elite shooter in the NBA, he should be a respectable one. His collegiate career shooting number averages are probably close to what his theoretical maximum shooting %’s could be in the NBA if things go well for him: 38% 3P%, 76% FT% and 48% 2P%. If he can hit those shooting numbers in the NBA, he’ll be a valuable guard for teams in the league for many years to come.
Positional Passing
He doesn’t have amazing vision, but Evans is a smart and capable passer. He knows where the ball needs to go within a system and is capable of getting it there accurately and on time. His career average of 2.5 assists per game (season high being last season at 3.1 assists per game) and 1.3 TO’s per game speak to his passing capabilities and IQ. At times, he can get a bit lazy with his passes or force the issue when the defense is taking away an option, but it doesn’t happen often enough to be a major concern. He’s also capable of making basic reads and passes out of the pick & roll, especially to the roll man. This past season, all of Evans’ passes out of the pick & roll averaged 0.987 PPP (54th percentile, 68 FGA’s) with his passes to the roll man resulting in 1.281 PPP (85th percentile) and passes to cutters scoring 1.273 PPP (55th percentile). This may be an area of his game that NBA teams can take greater advantage of at the next level as an untapped sill. Teams could potential use Evans as tertiary or even secondary ball handler to run secondary pick & roll options or even primary ones as a more prominent ball handler in second units. Joe Ingles of the Utah Jazz and Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics are both good example of the potential role Evans could fill as secondary or tertiary ball handler for an NBA team as a rotational off guard. It will likely take some time and further development for Evans to fill this type of roll, but it’s well within his reasonable outcomes. But if nothing else, Evans should be a player that coaches can trust to make good & smart passes within an offense.
Shot Creation Upside
Evans has a fairly basic handle, but it’s better than advertised, and he may have some untapped potential there. He didn’t get to create a lot within Cincinnati’s system, and he works best as a scorer when working off screens (on or off the ball), but he has shown a solid array of ball handling moves. He loves to use in and out or hang dribbles, especially when coming screens, and has a basic crossover and hesitation dribble. And although he prefers to go right, he’s capable of going either direction. When given the chance to create in isolation this past season, he wasn’t half bad, averaging 0.811 PPP on all isolation scoring attempts (53rd percentile, 29 FGA’s). Although, it should be noted that he struggles to get to the rim off the dribble (more on this later), so almost all of his 29 isolation-scoring attempts came from jumpers (18 of the 29 attempts). He’s much better at getting to the basket with the help of screens, scoring 1.154 PPP as the P&R ball handler on drives when using the screen (71st percentile). Regardless, this is an aspect of his game that teams will want to take a longer look at and explore more in pre-draft workouts.
Basketball IQ
Alluded to earlier, Evans is a high level thinker on the court and makes good reads on both ends of the floor. On offense, he understands the importance of spacing and where openings will be as the defense reacts to the offense. He’s also an active off ball mover that does a good job at putting himself in the right spots to receive or make good passes. His scoring off screens (1.0 PPP, 63rd percentile) and on cuts (1.5 PPP, 95th percentile) is, in part, an indicator of this. He really gets lost or caught out of position on offense or defense, and should be a player that coaches can trust to play within a given game plan.
NBA Ready
Along the same lines as his basketball IQ, Evans has a very mature game. He won’t make a lot of mental mistakes and he doesn’t try to play outside of himself or the system. He understands how to play a role within the context of a team structure and can execute game plans at a high level. This aspect of his game should translate well to the NBA, and should enable him to be an instant contributor on many teams.
Intangibles
Lastly, Evans has a strong intangibles profile. He plays with a very high motor and engagement level throughout games on both ends of the floor. He’s a great teammate that communicates well and comes across as very coachable. He’s also not afraid to mix it up in a physical game, showing a lot of toughness, especially against bigger opponents, as he doesn’t allow himself to get bullied around despite some strength shortcomings. He’s not afraid to crash the boards (career 4.3 total rebounds per game) and runs the floor well: all indicators of his motor and toughness. He’s also well spoken off the floor and has history of improvement.
All these factors make for a strong intangibles profile that will bode well for him at the next level.
Weaknesses & Concerns:
Upside?
Evans is already 20 years old (about to turn 21) but has plateaued in his production the past couple seasons (almost identical numbers across the board). So the question is: how much upside is left in his development arc? Does he have another step? His play style, production the last couple seasons, physical tools & average athletic ability seem to indicate that he’s close to his theoretically maximum talent level. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as he’s done a good job maximizing his talent up to this stage in his career. But teams will question whether or not Evans has much left in his upside tank.
Strength?
He’s a high motor player who plays with a lot of toughness, but Evans lacks some strength, especially in his lower body. He can get bumped off his spots on drives to the basket a little too easily, and he can struggle to back down smaller players. He can also struggle to finish through contact at the rim at times, although his 1.219 PPP on scoring attempts around the basket (non post-ups, 68th percentile) is a promising indicator of his rim finishing abilities. His high motor and toughness make up for a lot of his strength differences, but he’ll be more exposed in the NBA going up against even bigger, stronger and more athletic players. It would do him well if he could add another 10 or 15 pounds of muscle to his frame, specifically in the lower body.
Athleticism?
Evans is an average, not great athlete. Similarly to his strength decencies, his basketball IQ and high motor make-up for a lot of his athletic short comings. But he can struggle to finish over the top of length or through contact at the rim. And while he can play above the rim, he can only do so in space. He also has a hard time turning the corner on defenders when handling the ball due to his lack of high-level quickness. His first step is just ok, but he’s capable of attacking closeouts. Looking at his combine showing this year, Evans posted a 35.5” max vertical, with a 28” standing vertical. Not terrible numbers, but not great either. They’re comparative to current NBA players such as: Robert Covington (36” max vertical, 27” standing vertical), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (34.5” max vertical, 29” standing vertical), Doug McDermott (36.5” max vertical, 28.5” standing vertical) and Rodney Hood (36” max vertical, 29” standing vertical). In his athletic testing, Evans posted a ¾ court sprint time of 3.2 seconds, a shuttle run time of 3.13 seconds and a lane agility time of 11.11 seconds. These numbers are comparable to current NBA players such as: Trey Burke (3.16 seconds ¾ court sprint, 3.14 seconds shuttle run and 11.2 seconds lane agility) and Josh Hart (3.2 seconds ¾ court sprint, 3.15 seconds shuttle run and 11.15 seconds lane agility). Again, these are just about average numbers.
Advanced Ball Handling & Shot Creation?
As mentioned earlier, Evans has a fairly simple array of ball handling moves, and lacks more advanced techniques. His lack of quickness limits his ability to create off the dribble more than anything else, but he could use to tighten up his handles a bit as he gets a little high and loose with his dribble at times. His lack of strength also makes it difficult for him to handle the ball under pressure or in traffic, although it’s not a huge weakness of his. But as a projected rotational guard, teams will want to see if Evans can do more with the ball in his hands.
Floater Game?
Another concern about Evans’ game is his lack of a floater game. This past season, he only attempted 19 runners/floaters, scoring 0.632 PPP on those shots (33rd percentile). With his difficulties getting to the basket off the dribble, it will be important for him to add more to his floater game. Although, he’s a decent mid-range jump shooter (1.014 PPP, 68th percentile), so that will help him a bit.
NBA Fit: Coming soon!
Draft Range:
Draft Range:
The appeal of Jacob Evans to NBA teams will be his well-rounded and mature game as a guard/wing combo. He’s more of a guard than a wing, but he should be able to play some spot minutes at the 3 in smaller lineups. His defense, shooting, passing, high IQ and motor will be especially appealing to non-lottery teams that are looking to add more depth to their already established rosters. And while his average athleticism and seemingly lower upside will cause some teams to pass on him for higher upside picks, he’s a solid player that has everything to be a multi-year rotational guard in the NBA.
Projected Draft Range: 17 to 30
