Rising sophomore scoring guard Isaiah Evans has pulled out of the NBA Combine and will return to Duke.
According to multiple reports the 6-foot-6 Evans has elected to forego the remainder of the NBA Draft process and will not participate in the 2025 NBA Draft Combine this week.
Previously Evans announced his intention to return to Duke for his second season, presumably as a starter for the Blue Devils on the wing. Following that confirmation the Charlotte area prospect and former five star recruit was one of 106 players on a list of early entry candidates for the 2025 Draft, released April 29th.
After spending the last few weeks working with personal trainers, Evans appeared ready to participate in this week’s combine which takes place in Chicago and will run until May 18th. However, ahead of Sunday’s start that mindset changed with the decision to withdraw.
Players who want to maintain their college eligibility must withdraw their names by May 28. The 2025 NBA Draft is scheduled for June 25-26 in Brooklyn.
As a freshman Evans shot 42 percent from behind the arc and knocked down two or more three pointers in 17 different games while coming off the bench for the majority of the season. On the year he averaged 6.8 points, 1.1 rebounds and 13.7 minutes in 36 appearances. He also shot 43 percent from the field and 81 percent from the free throw line.
Next season those numbers are expected to balloon as the former No.13 overall player in the class of 2024 sees his role and usage increase dramatically. There is certainly a need for such an increase after Duke’s entire starting lineup elected to move on to the NBA.
With Evans now officially back for next season, Duke will now await the decision of Washington State transfer Cedric Coward who is also participating in this week’s combine after missing all but six games last season with a severe shoulder injury. Coward was expected to receive full medical clearance last week to return to the court.
Duke currently has a projected nine man rotation which includes Coward and Evans along with a three man recruiting class headlined by two-time national high school player of the year, Cameron Boozer.
Head coach Jon Scheyer, entering his fourth year in charge of the Blue Devil program, is expected to add at least one more projected rotation player to the roster with a possible second coming if Coward elected to remain in the draft.
