RALEIGH, N.C. (WBTV) – Isaiah Evans very likely would have had an easier path to playing time, had he gone to another school.

He had no interest in the easy path, however.

The five-star prospect and McDonald’s All-American coming out of North Mecklenburg High School essentially had his choice of schools vying for his talents at the collegiate level.

Evans chose the Duke Blue Devils, knowing that it would be harder to see the court coming into Durham with the likes of Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel.

Duke is preparing to begin 2025 men’s NCAA Tournament play against Mount Saint Mary’s on Friday, March 21 — and Evans’ growth into a key role player for the Blue Devil bench has become readily apparent.

“He’s been in some crucial moments for us,” said Jon Scheyer, Duke’s head coach . “[He’s] made some big time shots, but his whole game has progressed, because he works on it.”

—> Related: Freshman star Cooper Flagg is ready to go for No. 1 seed Duke in March Madness

Almost a year after leading the Vikings to a state championship, Evans is now in a position to play a role for a national championship team. He says his time at North Mecklenburg High School — also called North Meck — played a vital part in preparing him for this stage.

“I feel like I learned a lot there,” Evans said. “I feel like that’s where my mentality and my work ethic started to grow … they have a special place in my heart.”

Evans was the first man up for Duke in the starting lineup after Flagg suffered an ankle injury against Georgia Tech in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals. Evans also contributed 14 points off the bench in that contest.

Duane Lewis coached Evans at North Meck for four years, and saw firsthand what made him special on the court.

Lewis says it’s Evans’ makeup off the court that truly set him apart.

“He wants to be coached, he wants to be challenged,” Lewis said. “He’s going to find a way. He’s a hard worker, he’s a willing worker.”

Scheyer echoed those sentiments on Thursday, March 20.

“He takes coaching, and he has the great balance of being very confident in his ability, but also having great humility and being very objective with analyzing what he can do better and needs to do better,” Scheyer said of Evans. “I’ve loved, loved coaching Isaiah Evans, man. He’s been awesome.”

Flagg will return to action in time for the men’s NCAA Tournament, so Evans’ role and usage in the lineup are likely to take a step back.

He says that won’t stop the work to get out on the court.

“I know that whatever I put my mind to, I can do,” Evans said. “Just put my head down and get to work, that’s always been my philosophy.”

Duke and Mount St. Mary’s tip off at 2:50 p.m. on Friday at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. That game will be broadcast on WBTV.

—> More: March Madness: How to watch and what to watch for in the 2025 NCAA Tournament

Copyright 2025 WBTV. All rights reserved.

RALEIGH, N.C. (WBTV) – Isaiah Evans very likely would have had an easier path to playing time, had he gone to another school.

He had no interest in the easy path, however.

The five-star prospect and McDonald’s All-American coming out of North Mecklenburg High School essentially had his choice of schools vying for his talents at the collegiate level.

Evans chose the Duke Blue Devils, knowing that it would be harder to see the court coming into Durham with the likes of Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel.

Duke is preparing to begin 2025 men’s NCAA Tournament play against Mount Saint Mary’s on Friday, March 21 — and Evans’ growth into a key role player for the Blue Devil bench has become readily apparent.

“He’s been in some crucial moments for us,” said Jon Scheyer, Duke’s head coach . “[He’s] made some big time shots, but his whole game has progressed, because he works on it.”

—> Related: Freshman star Cooper Flagg is ready to go for No. 1 seed Duke in March Madness

Almost a year after leading the Vikings to a state championship, Evans is now in a position to play a role for a national championship team. He says his time at North Mecklenburg High School — also called North Meck — played a vital part in preparing him for this stage.

“I feel like I learned a lot there,” Evans said. “I feel like that’s where my mentality and my work ethic started to grow … they have a special place in my heart.”

Evans was the first man up for Duke in the starting lineup after Flagg suffered an ankle injury against Georgia Tech in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals. Evans also contributed 14 points off the bench in that contest.

Duane Lewis coached Evans at North Meck for four years, and saw firsthand what made him special on the court.

Lewis says it’s Evans’ makeup off the court that truly set him apart.

“He wants to be coached, he wants to be challenged,” Lewis said. “He’s going to find a way. He’s a hard worker, he’s a willing worker.”

Scheyer echoed those sentiments on Thursday, March 20.

“He takes coaching, and he has the great balance of being very confident in his ability, but also having great humility and being very objective with analyzing what he can do better and needs to do better,” Scheyer said of Evans. “I’ve loved, loved coaching Isaiah Evans, man. He’s been awesome.”

Flagg will return to action in time for the men’s NCAA Tournament, so Evans’ role and usage in the lineup are likely to take a step back.

He says that won’t stop the work to get out on the court.

“I know that whatever I put my mind to, I can do,” Evans said. “Just put my head down and get to work, that’s always been my philosophy.”

Duke and Mount St. Mary’s tip off at 2:50 p.m. on Friday at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. That game will be broadcast on WBTV.

—> More: March Madness: How to watch and what to watch for in the 2025 NCAA Tournament

Copyright 2025 WBTV. All rights reserved.

RALEIGH, N.C. (WBTV) – Isaiah Evans very likely would have had an easier path to playing time, had he gone to another school.

He had no interest in the easy path, however.

The five-star prospect and McDonald’s All-American coming out of North Mecklenburg High School essentially had his choice of schools vying for his talents at the collegiate level.

Evans chose the Duke Blue Devils, knowing that it would be harder to see the court coming into Durham with the likes of Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel.

Duke is preparing to begin 2025 men’s NCAA Tournament play against Mount Saint Mary’s on Friday, March 21 — and Evans’ growth into a key role player for the Blue Devil bench has become readily apparent.

“He’s been in some crucial moments for us,” said Jon Scheyer, Duke’s head coach . “[He’s] made some big time shots, but his whole game has progressed, because he works on it.”

—> Related: Freshman star Cooper Flagg is ready to go for No. 1 seed Duke in March Madness

Almost a year after leading the Vikings to a state championship, Evans is now in a position to play a role for a national championship team. He says his time at North Mecklenburg High School — also called North Meck — played a vital part in preparing him for this stage.

“I feel like I learned a lot there,” Evans said. “I feel like that’s where my mentality and my work ethic started to grow … they have a special place in my heart.”

Evans was the first man up for Duke in the starting lineup after Flagg suffered an ankle injury against Georgia Tech in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals. Evans also contributed 14 points off the bench in that contest.

Duane Lewis coached Evans at North Meck for four years, and saw firsthand what made him special on the court.

Lewis says it’s Evans’ makeup off the court that truly set him apart.

“He wants to be coached, he wants to be challenged,” Lewis said. “He’s going to find a way. He’s a hard worker, he’s a willing worker.”

Scheyer echoed those sentiments on Thursday, March 20.

“He takes coaching, and he has the great balance of being very confident in his ability, but also having great humility and being very objective with analyzing what he can do better and needs to do better,” Scheyer said of Evans. “I’ve loved, loved coaching Isaiah Evans, man. He’s been awesome.”

Flagg will return to action in time for the men’s NCAA Tournament, so Evans’ role and usage in the lineup are likely to take a step back.

He says that won’t stop the work to get out on the court.

“I know that whatever I put my mind to, I can do,” Evans said. “Just put my head down and get to work, that’s always been my philosophy.”

Duke and Mount St. Mary’s tip off at 2:50 p.m. on Friday at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. That game will be broadcast on WBTV.

—> More: March Madness: How to watch and what to watch for in the 2025 NCAA Tournament

Copyright 2025 WBTV. All rights reserved.

RALEIGH, N.C. (WBTV) – Isaiah Evans very likely would have had an easier path to playing time, had he gone to another school.

He had no interest in the easy path, however.

The five-star prospect and McDonald’s All-American coming out of North Mecklenburg High School essentially had his choice of schools vying for his talents at the collegiate level.

Evans chose the Duke Blue Devils, knowing that it would be harder to see the court coming into Durham with the likes of Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel.

Duke is preparing to begin 2025 men’s NCAA Tournament play against Mount Saint Mary’s on Friday, March 21 — and Evans’ growth into a key role player for the Blue Devil bench has become readily apparent.

“He’s been in some crucial moments for us,” said Jon Scheyer, Duke’s head coach . “[He’s] made some big time shots, but his whole game has progressed, because he works on it.”

—> Related: Freshman star Cooper Flagg is ready to go for No. 1 seed Duke in March Madness

Almost a year after leading the Vikings to a state championship, Evans is now in a position to play a role for a national championship team. He says his time at North Mecklenburg High School — also called North Meck — played a vital part in preparing him for this stage.

“I feel like I learned a lot there,” Evans said. “I feel like that’s where my mentality and my work ethic started to grow … they have a special place in my heart.”

Evans was the first man up for Duke in the starting lineup after Flagg suffered an ankle injury against Georgia Tech in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals. Evans also contributed 14 points off the bench in that contest.

Duane Lewis coached Evans at North Meck for four years, and saw firsthand what made him special on the court.

Lewis says it’s Evans’ makeup off the court that truly set him apart.

“He wants to be coached, he wants to be challenged,” Lewis said. “He’s going to find a way. He’s a hard worker, he’s a willing worker.”

Scheyer echoed those sentiments on Thursday, March 20.

“He takes coaching, and he has the great balance of being very confident in his ability, but also having great humility and being very objective with analyzing what he can do better and needs to do better,” Scheyer said of Evans. “I’ve loved, loved coaching Isaiah Evans, man. He’s been awesome.”

Flagg will return to action in time for the men’s NCAA Tournament, so Evans’ role and usage in the lineup are likely to take a step back.

He says that won’t stop the work to get out on the court.

“I know that whatever I put my mind to, I can do,” Evans said. “Just put my head down and get to work, that’s always been my philosophy.”

Duke and Mount St. Mary’s tip off at 2:50 p.m. on Friday at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. That game will be broadcast on WBTV.

—> More: March Madness: How to watch and what to watch for in the 2025 NCAA Tournament

Copyright 2025 WBTV. All rights reserved.