Duke Freshman Guard Isaiah Evans Has a Prime Opportunity to Elevate His NBA Draft Stock

With the recent injury to veteran guard Tyrese Proctor, Duke freshman Isaiah Evans now has a significant opportunity to showcase his talent and improve his standing for the upcoming NBA Draft.

The Duke Blue Devils, currently boasting an impressive 25-3 record (16-1 in the ACC), suffered a setback when Proctor, a key junior guard, sustained a knee injury during the team’s commanding 97-60 victory over Miami. The extent of his injury remains uncertain, but head coach Jon Scheyer acknowledged the situation, stating, “He’s tough. He got hit on the leg, we’ve got to get him some imaging and we’ll go from there.”

With Proctor averaging 29.1 minutes per game, his absence will open up significant playing time for other players, particularly freshman sharpshooter Isaiah Evans. This development presents Evans with a golden opportunity to capture the attention of NBA scouts ahead of the summer draft.

A Crucial Window to Prove His Potential

At present, Evans is projected to be selected in the mid-to-late second round of the draft. Given this outlook, he has been expected to return for another season at Duke. However, with an inevitable increase in his playing time, the freshman now has a legitimate chance to demonstrate his abilities on a larger stage.

Evans has already begun to capitalize on extended minutes in recent games. Over his last three appearances, he has significantly increased his production, logging at least 22 minutes in two of those contests—this after having played 20 minutes or more only twice in Duke’s first 25 games of the season.

During this recent stretch, Evans has been highly efficient, averaging 16.7 points per game while shooting an outstanding 64% (16-of-25) from the field and an exceptional 68.4% (13-of-19) from three-point range.

Potential to Secure a More Prominent Role

As Duke looks to adjust to Proctor’s absence, Evans emerges as the frontrunner to step into the starting lineup. This expanded role will allow him to consistently display his strengths—particularly his elite outside shooting and defensive capabilities.

Before this turn of events, Evans faced a tough decision regarding his future. He was reportedly exploring multiple options, including entering the NBA Draft, returning to Duke for another season, or even transferring, given the reported interest he had been receiving from other programs.

Now, however, if Evans can sustain this level of performance and establish himself as a reliable “3-and-D” player, he has a genuine chance to build first-round buzz ahead of the NBA Draft.

What’s Next?

Duke’s next challenge comes on March 1st, when they host Florida State (16-12, 7-10 ACC) in a crucial conference matchup. Tipoff is set for 7:00 PM ET on the ACC Network, and it will be another opportunity for Evans to prove he belongs among the nation’s top draft prospects.