Five-star forward Kwame Evans Jr. commits to Oregon

Class of 2023 five-star prospect Kwame “KJ” Evans Jr. has committed to Oregon, he tells On3.

The 6-foot-10, 190-pound power forward from Montverde (Fla.) Academy ultimately chose Dana Altman and the Ducks over Arizona, Auburn, Kentucky, and UCF. Evans also received offers from Indiana, UCLA, Maryland, and others.

Evans is the No. 5 overall prospect in the 2023 class, according to the On3 Consensus, the average ranking from all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 1 power forward and the No. 1 player in the state of Florida.

The Baltimore native big man joins four-star point guard Jackson Shelstad. Five-star forward Mookie Cook, who recently de-committed from Oregon, is heavily considering a return to the Ducks, per sources.

Evans on his commitment to Oregon

“I chose Oregon because I felt like it gave me the best opportunity to go to the League and the coaching staff made it feel like family to me,” Evans said to On3.

In a previous interview with On3, Evans spoke further about Oregon.

“I like their program. Their coaching staff makes me feel like a priority. I just feel like Oregon is a good fit for me, really. And their atmosphere is crazy too when they got really big games up there.”

Nike’s headquarters being in Oregon was also attractive to Evans.

“I like the vibe the coaches are giving off…they seem intuitive and they want what’s best. Oregon is Oregon, like Nike. It’s the west coast too and I like it out there.”

What does Oregon like about Evans as a player?

The Oregon staff likes how versatile Evans is as a player.

“They like everything about me,” Evans said recently. “My length, my intangibles, what I can do with the ball in my hands, score, rebound, handle, shoot; they just like it all really.”

Scouting Summary

It’s the length with Kwame Evans, his arms seemingly go forever and he continues to grow. There is so much there with his game, it is understandable how he can still be putting it all together. Evans has ball skills to re-initiate offense or grab and go off the rebounds. He has excellent vision, as teams are able to play through him from a stationary position in the half-court. Evans is a reliable spot shooter when his feet are set. While he is athletic, there is not a lot of pop in his game, but his enormous wing-span makes up for a lot of that. He is great in the passing lanes and has excellent timing as a shot-blocker. He will need to continue adding strength, but that will come as he is still young. The upside is huge and the light is coming on. – On3’s Jamie Shaw, National Recruiting Analyst