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12 - Keenan Evans

6-3, 185 Point Guard/Shooting Guard
Texas Tech Senior
Birthday
08/23/96 (27.6 yrs)
Hometown
Richardson, TX
High School
Berkner
Team Site Profile
Statistics
Athleticism
8
Size
7
Defense
7
Strength
7
Quickness
8
Leadership
8
Jump Shot
8
NBA Ready
8
Ball Handling
8
Potential
6
Passing
6
Intangibles
8

NBA Comparison: Jannero Pargo

Strengths: Texas Tech’s main offensive weapon and floor general, Keenan Evans’ ability to put the ball in the bucket is probably his biggest strength when looking to the next level …  As a senior, Evans averaged a team leading 17.6 points per game, and did so rather efficiently on only 11.4 shots per game … His knack to get into the lane and draw contact allowed him really control the pace of the game when needed, as well as capitalize on his excellent free throw shooting acumen … Keenan tallied 6.7 free throw attempts per game (2nd in the Big 12) and converted at an impressive .817% shooting clip … He also showed great creativity in converting buckets in the lane, while drawing contact … His ability to fill it up resulted in 7 games last season in which he scored over 25 points (which also includes a career high 38 against Texas) and when the Red Raiders needed a bucket, Evans was the guy with the ball in his hands … In addition he’s shown the ability to shoot off the dribble, coming off screens, and spotting up in the corner, and he’s especially adept as a mid-range shooter … Despite a significant dip in his 3 point percentage as a senior, he does have that kind of range, and projects to at least be a player you need to respect past the 3 point line … While not a true point guard, Evans does have the ball-handling necessary to handle the ball at the NBA level, and as a ball dominant player in college, he is experienced in breaking presses and handling the ball under pressure … From a defensive standpoint, he’s a solid athlete who easily dunks off two feet (at 6′ 3”) and possesses good end to end and lateral speed … He’s projects to a serviceable defender against NBA point guards, especially since he’ll be shouldering a lesser offensive role at the next level … A player who’s demonstrated a fearless attitude, and one who has a track record of clutch finishes, hard work and a bulldog mentality …

Weaknesses: Keenan really is more of a 6’3” shooting guard with good ball handling skills … His position at the NBA level will be a point guard, and while the current style of play in the NBA gives combo guards a better chance of sticking than they did 20 years ago, his passing skills leave something to be desired … Evans averaged just 3.2 assists per contest as a senior, and while his 1.9 TO’s per game as a primary ball handler is a low number, it’s well below the 2.0+ assist to TO ratio ideal for point guard prospects … One thing Keenan can improve upon is the quickness of his release … He has the tendency to cock the ball back and this results in a slower release … Against larger, and longer defenders, he’ll need to improve on this to get off his jump shot … He kind of lacks a stand out skill … There are plenty of 6′ 2”-6′ 4” combo guards who scored at a high level in college, but what is his calling card? … Evans’ ability to find a spot in the NBA will have to be dictated on a team being an ideal fit for his game and personality …  

Overall: Keenan Evans is an experienced combo guard with a tough nosed mentality and a knack for making big shots … He’s bested Trae Young and Devonte Graham in individual matchups, and lead his team to an Elite 8 birth … He leaves a little to be desired in terms of playmaking, and defensive versatility, but he’s a quick player with respectable athletic ability and a creative scoring repertoire … It’d be a bonus if he could improve the quickness of his release on his jumper … He could sneak into the late 2nd round in June, but most likely is a player who will have to earn his keep as a rookie free agent … His toughness is a quality that coaches love, so it may just be finding the right fit in order for him to stick …

Notes: Measured 6′ 1.5” barefoot, 6′ 3” in shoes, 183.2 lbs, 6′ 5.25” wingspan,  8′ 2” standing reach, 6.50% body fat, and 8.50 hand length at the 2018 NBA Draft Combine … 2018 2nd Team All-American,  2018 (All-Big 12) 1st Team. 2017 (All-Big 12) 3rd Team …

David Ray 5/25/18

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