TicketsCINCINNATI – Former University of Cincinnati swingman Jacob Evans III was taken by the Golden State Warriors as the 28th pick in the first round of the NBA draft on Thursday.
A 6-foot-6, 210-pound native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Evans becomes the 57th player in Cincinnati history chosen in the draft and the first since Lance Stephenson was selected by the Indiana Pacers as the 40th pick in the second round of the 2010 draft.
Evans is the first Bearcat drafted in the opening round since Jason Maxiell was chosen by the Detroit Pistons as the 26th pick overall in the 2005 draft.
"I believed Jacob Evans was a pro the very first time I saw him play," UC head coach Mick Cronin said. "We all know how valuable he was to our success, but what some may not know is what a wonderful young man Jacob is. He was one of the smartest players I have ever coached. We take great pride in developing our players and Jacob is a great example what can happen for a young man with talent and a great attitude. We are so proud and extremely excited for him to join the World Champions."
Evans earned first team all-league honors in the American Athletic Conference as a junior in 2017-18 averaging a team-high 13.0 points with 4.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks in 30.8 minutes. A Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award semifinalist, the versatile Evans ranked among the conference leaders in eight categories: assist-to-turnover ratio (ninth at 1.8), three-point field goal percentage (10th at .370), steals (10th at 1.3), blocks (10th at 1.0), free throw percentage (11th at .754), assists (13th at 3.1), scoring (16th at 13.0) and minutes played (21st at 30.8) while scoring in double figures 28 times.
During his three-year stay in Cincinnati, Evans helped guide the Bearcats to an 83-22 overall record, the 2017-18 AAC regular-season and conference tournament championships and three appearances in the NCAA tournament. He ranks seventh in school history with a .377 career three-point shooting percentage and is listed 31st on the UC career scoring list with 1,233 points.
Among his many memorable moments in a Bearcats jersey, Evans hit a game-winning 19-foot jumper with 0.4 seconds left at Temple (1/4/18) to help extend what would grow into a nation's best 16-game win streak. He hit back-to-back free throws to give Cincinnati a 55-54 overtime win at Iowa State (12/1/16), snapping the Cyclones' 37-game nonconference home-court win streak. He also set the UC freshman record for most points in an NCAA tournament game, scoring 26 points against Saint Joseph's (3/18/16).
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The moment @JacobEvans_1 became a Dub! pic.twitter.com/y069DJxE7s
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 22, 2018
Here's the moment @JacobEvans_1 found out he's going to Golden State. #NBADraft pic.twitter.com/DzBG8IYamT
— Morgan Beard (@morganbeard) June 22, 2018
Thank you Coach for believing me and giving me the opportunity to be successful at UC. I love y'all and I will forever be a Bearcat! ❤️ https://t.co/5Nxvl3Kvfg
— ️Jacob Evans III (@JacobEvans_1) June 22, 2018
Bound for the Bay!
— Cincinnati Men's Hoops (@GoBearcatsMBB) June 22, 2018
Congrats to @JacobEvans_1 on being selected by the @warriors in the #NBADraft!#Bearcats | #DubNation pic.twitter.com/fuUvM0EZPS
Welcome to #DubNation @JacobEvans_1 👏 #NBADraft pic.twitter.com/NCGbgj3TY0
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 22, 2018