Cincinnati swingman Jacob Evans announced on Sunday that he has elected to enter the 2018 NBA draft, confirming his decision on Twitter.
Speaking to Jonathan Givony of ESPN.com, Evans called the decision “the best move for me,” noting that he won’t yet hire an agent, preserving his NCAA eligibility for the time being. However, it doesn’t sound like he intends to simply test the waters and then withdraw his name.
“I didn’t sign an agent yet, but I’m entering my name with plans on getting picked in the first round,” Evans said. “I’m not just testing to come back to school.”
Evans, a junior, averaged 13.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 3.1 APG with a shooting line of .427/.370/.754 shooting line for the Bearcats in 2017/18. Although Evans’ shooting numbers were better in his sophomore year (.473/.418/.732), his performance this past season still has him positioned as a potential first-round pick.
Givony ranks Evans 24th overall on his big board, and had him at No. 25 in his most recent mock draft, referring to the 20-year-old as an “ultra-versatile player who guards all over the floor.”