Nation’s leading shot blocker commits to NC State hoops. How he can help the Pack
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kyle Evans commits to NC State after averaging 12.1 points and 8.7 rebounds at UC Irvine.
- Evans recorded 115 total blocks and averaged 3.3 blocks per game this season.
- Evans joins transfer class alongside guards Christian Hammond and Preston Edmead.
N.C. State men’s basketball upgraded its frontcourt for the 2026-27 season with the addition of a new commit.
UC Irvine forward Kyle Evans announced his commitment to the Wolfpack Tuesday night on social media, posting a graphic and simple “Go Pack.”
He averaged 12.1 points and 8.7 rebounds in 34 appearances at UC Irvine this season. Additionally, he scored at a 62% clip, which was second in the Big West, and was the nation’s leading shot blocker. Evans recorded 115 total blocks and 3.3 per game.
Evans made a significant jump from the 2024-25 season, when he only averaged four points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 39 games.
Evans, a senior, is listed at 6-foot-10 and 210 pounds, which is slightly taller and leaner than Ven-Allen Lubin, who was a senior last season. Lubin was praised for his efforts but did not have the size to be an elite rim protector. N.C. State’s other interior players did not possess the necessary shot blocking nor did they have the same scoring finesse Lubin presented. Evans should provide both.
“I think we saw this year, maybe if some of our players were four inches taller, it could have been a little bit better,” N.C. State Athletic Director Boo Corrigan said during a press conference. “Not to shade on our players this year, but the importance of a rim protector has really become something more definitive in college basketball. We need to make sure that we have [a coach] to come in here that knows how to build a roster, knows how to put the pieces together in a right way to have a very competitive team.”
Kyle Evans a big defender in the Big West
Evans was a First Team All-Big West selection and Big West Defensive Player of the Year. He was expected to be an underrated but impactful transfer, according to several recruiting sites.
The senior joins guards Christian Hammond and Preston Edmead as part of Justin Gainey’s first transfer class. The Wolfpack’s Zymicah Wilkins did not enter the transfer portal. The 6-9, 260-pound freshman redshirted and will likely come off the bench behind Evans.
“When I think about my roster and what I want it to look like, ideally, I do want to have depth in the front court,” head coach Justin Gainey said after his introduction. “I do want to have size in the front court and on the wings, as well. It my vision that we’ll have some depth and we’ll have size up front.”
The transfer portal closed on Tuesday to new entrants. Teams will now continue filling out their rosters ahead of the summer enrollment period.
