Isaiah Evans: Duke's Freshman Star Defies Expectations

You might know Isaiah Evans as a high school basketball sensation, but college ball can be a different game. Many players struggle with this change, but not Isaiah. This Duke freshman showed patience and hard work pay off. After Duke beat Auburn, Cooper Flagg praised Evans. "It's not everyday you see a high school star like Evans prepare so well, " he said. Evans scored big in the first half, helping Duke come back from an 11-point deficit. Flagg led the team with 22 points, but Evans was the surprising star. Evans hadn't been playing big minutes before, but he didn't let that stop him. He worked hard in practice, focusing on improving. Coach Jon Scheyer noticed this. "He didn't sulk about his role, " Scheyer said. "Instead, he showed humility and worked on his game. " Evans' confidence was clear during the Auburn game. "If you leave me open, I'll make the shot, " he said. This confidence also spiced up the Duke-North Carolina rivalry. Evans came to Duke with buzz, thanks to his high school performances and cheeky comments about UNC. In high school, Evans averaged 27. 5 points per game. Now, he's proving he can do the same in college. With performances like the Auburn game, Evans is likely to see more minutes. So, keep an eye on this freshman star!