5-star Kwame Evans Jr. cuts list to five, includes Kentucky

Kwame Evans Jr., the No. 2 prospect in the 2023 On3 Consensus, is down to five schools and is still considering Kentucky. The Wildcats join Oregon, Indiana, Auburn and UCLA on the five-star forward’s list of finalists.

Evans previously held offers from Memphis, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, LSU, Oklahoma State, Florida, Georgetown, Illinois, Tennessee and Texas A&M before cutting his list.

The 6-foot-10 prospect out of Baltimore, MD is rated as the No. 1 power forward in the junior class.

In an exclusive interview with On3’s Joe Tipton, Evans discussed each of his finalists, singling out Kentucky as a school who’s “got it all.”

“Kentucky keeps their guys focused up there and they go hard in practice,” Evans told On3. “They just got it all up there, everything is top-notch stuff for the players. The coaching staff goes hard on them. I was in the film room with them and the coach was going into detail to help them because he wants what’s best for him. Also, their NIL deals, with TyTy (Washington) and them.

“They produce NBA players, so why wouldn’t you look at them? Especially players in my position.”

Evans also told On3 that he was one of five players Kentucky was recruiting in the class of 2023, joining Reed Sheppard, DJ Wagner, Mackenzie Mgbako and Robert Dillingham. That was the core group of players the coaches told Evans they were pushing for.

“When I visited, they told me they wanted Reed Sheppard, DJ (Wagner), Mackenzie (Mgbako), and me, at that time. They wanted us four,” Evans told On3. “They actually wanted all of us four to come on a visit together but I couldn’t go because I had to change my dates. So those three went on a visit together and then I just ended up going by myself. And they were just saying that’s who they wanted. And they wanted Rob (Dillingham).”

He also added that Kentucky was one of three schools to visit him recently, joining Oregon and Indiana.

Looking for more good news? Evans compares his game to that of former Kentucky star Anthony Davis.

“Something like Anthony Davis, like the way they use him,” Evans told On3. “They can put him at the five as well and big guys can’t guard him or stay in front of him so probably something like that. Playing inside out…once I get stronger and stuff like that.”

Evans tells On3 that he will announce his commitment this fall, “probably around September.”

The five-star forward will play with Team Durant on the Nike EYBL circuit this summer.

Until then, watch him work below:

Come on down.