How Duke freshman Isaiah Evans earned more playing time to show off his sweet jump shot

Duke coach Jon Scheyer was pleased to see Isaiah Evans make six 3-pointers during the first half of what became an 84-78 win over Auburn on Dec. 4.

Of course he was: Those shots dug Duke out of an early hole on the scoreboard and helped the Blue Devils claim an important win.

What pleased Scheyer just as much, though, is how the mercurial freshman guard handled things four nights later, when he missed his only two shots during Duke’s 76-65 win at Louisville

“The reality is,” Scheyer said, “his approach has stayed the same. Isaiah, just having him on the floor at times, even if he’s not hitting, he has to be guarded because he’s such a weapon. He attacked it. Right after the Auburn and Louisville games, he went right back to coaches saying, ‘I want to work on my defense.’”

Freshmen ride ups and downs, particularly in the early weeks of their college seasons. For a guy like Evans, who didn’t get much playing time in big games until his breakout performance against Auburn, navigating those ebbs and flows will strongly dictate how much playing time he’ll get.

‘It was really hard’

The 6-7 Evans arrived at Duke from North Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte with a reputation for passionate play and scoring in bunches. On the way to having his jersey No. 0 retired, Evans averaged 27.5 points per game as a senior leading the Vikings to a 30-3 record and the NCHSAA 4A state championship.

During one playoff game, he taunted some UNC Tar Heels fans who came to the gym to heckle him since he’d already signed with Duke.

He arrived on campus last summer with the rest of Duke’s incoming recruits, comprising the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class, after being named N.C. player of the year by Gatorade.

But, as often happens to freshmen, a rude awakening awaited him when summer workouts and pick-up games with his college teammates began.

“These guys were just busting my ass,” Evans said. “I couldn’t guard anybody, couldn’t box out. You know, it was really hard.”

That mostly explains why, despite his scoring ability, Evans played only 27 minutes combined over Duke’s first six games this season. He didn’t see the court at all when Duke lost 77-72 to Kentucky in Atlanta on Nov. 12, won 67-55 at Arizona on Nov. 22 or lost 75-72 to Kansas in Las Vegas on Nov. 26.

Scheyer kept counseling Evans.

“I’ve told Isaiah a couple times through this process, he has a …” Scheyer said, pausing to find the right word, “spirit is the word that comes to mind. He’s got an amazing spirit. So sometimes when you don’t play, the last thing I want to have happen is to lose your spirit. Like attack, what you have to get better at.”

Evans kept working

Evans put in the work, staying after practice for extra defense with reserves Spencer Hubbard and Cam Sheffield.

“Getting the coaches just to trust me more on defense,” Evans said. “Working with my guy Spencer, Cam Sheffield, guarding them every day after practice. Getting a certain number of stops. Getting rebounds. Doing things like that to show the coaches I’m ready to play.”

Between all the time on the bench in Duke’s games against ranked opponents, Evans scored 14 points in 12 minutes when Duke walloped Wofford, 86-35, on Nov. 16 at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Scheyer and the coaches remained intrigued with the scoring punch Evans could offer. Finally, he showed enough improvement in other parts of his game to earn more minutes.

“Everyone in the country knows I can score the ball,” Evans said, “but you know, a team like this it’s about who can defend, who can rebound, every single possession. Once I show them I can do that, the sky’s the limit.”

The extended play began in Duke’s 70-48 win over Seattle on Nov. 29. Evans entered early in the first half. While playing what at the time was a season-high 17 minutes, Evans hit only 2 of 7 3-pointers and committed two turnovers while scoring nine points.

But he showed the coaches he could do more than score.

‘It’s growth’

When Auburn brought an unbeaten record to Cameron on Dec. 4, Scheyer put Evans in the game early off the bench again. Duke had fallen behind 13-2 before Evans put on a scintillating shooting show.

When halftime arrived, Evans had hit six 3-pointers to score 18 and help Duke take a 43-36 halftime lead. Though Evans didn’t score in the second half, his play was key to Duke subduing Auburn.

Four nights later, when Duke played its first ACC game of the season at Louisville, Evans entered the game in the first half but didn’t have much success. He played only 10 minutes, committing two fouls and missing two shots.

But Evans kept his spirit about him, as Scheyer had hoped.

“I just love his work,” Scheyer said. “His work ethic has not changed one bit. His approach before the Auburn game was there. His approach after the Auburn game was there. I think it’s a natural thing. You go from the moment you have six threes in a game. That’s a pretty special moment. It’s kind of natural to have a letdown.”

But after that scoreless night at Louisville, Evans scored 14 points in 19 minutes, making 4 of 6 3-pointers, when Duke beat Incarnate Word, 72-46, on Tuesday night.

The scoring, he knows, can always be there. He’s made 17 of 34 3-point attempts this season, a stellar 50% clip.

“Tunnel vision,” Evans said. “Once I catch it, if you don’t have a hand up and you’re not shading my shot, it’s going up.”

But he’s also become a better defender and rebounder. Work remains ahead to maintain those parts of his game, but everything Evans has done thus far in a Duke uniform shows he’ll get that done.

“It’s growth,” Scheyer said. “Yes, big-time growth. It’s his work ethic, it’s his self-belief.”

This story was originally published December 13, 2024 at 6:00 AM.