By ADAM ZAGORIA
K.J. Evans, the five-star 6-foot-9, 200-pound power forward from Montverde (FL) Academy, took an official visit to Arizona over the weekend and is planning to visit Auburn later this month.
Kwame Evans Sr., K.J.’s father, said they were impressed with Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd in part because of his recruitment of Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren, who could be the No. 1 overall pick in this month’s NBA Draft.
“It was a great visit,” Kwame Sr. said. “Their message was, ‘Come here, work hard, compete for a starting spot, and learn from the guy who worked with skilled bigs and be versatile and get out and run.’
“I think it’s a very good place to play, just for the fact that he has [recruited] Chet Holmgren.”
Lloyd was at Montverde in April to meet with Evans, and at that point Evans expanded his list from five schools to six: Arizona, Auburn, Indiana, Kentucky, Oregon and UCLA.
“Their message to me was [they] develop players and ultimately win” and they will “get you to the NBA,” KJ said then.
Next up is a planned visit to Auburn June 13-15.
“They want to help me become a great basketball player and great person and they want to see me make my dreams come to reality and they have a family atmosphere,” KJ previously said of Auburn.
Evans figures to play an even bigger role at Montverde under legendary coach Kevin Boyle next season after the program won its sixth GEICO High School National championship in March. Evans had 11 points in the final over Link Academy.
Montverde loses Dariq Whitehead (Duke), Dillon Mitchell (Texas), Jalen Hood-Schifino (Indiana) and Malik Reneau (Indiana) but has reloaded with a group of talented younger players.
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