JP Tokoto
February 2, 2021
Jerry Evans Jr
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 19/12/90
- Place of Birth: Lawndale, California (USA)
- Position: FRD
- Height (CM): 203
- Weight (KG): 95
- Junior Assoc:
- College: Nevada (2010-2014)
- NBL DEBUT: 6/10/17
- AGE AT DEBUT: 26
- LAST NBL GAME: 18/02/18
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 27
- NBL History: Cairns 2018
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Jerry Evans Jr was born in Lawndale, California (USA).
NBL EXPERIENCE
Jerry Evans Jr made his NBL debut with the Cairns Taipans at 26 years of age. He scored one point in his first NBL game.
After finishing second with a 15-13 record before losing their semifinal series 2-0 to Perth the previous season, Cairns returned under coach Aaron Fearne with Cameron Gliddon remaining captain. Travis Trice (to Brisbane), Mark Worthington (retired) and Fuquan Edwin (to Kauhajoki) departed, while Dayshon “Scoochie” Smith (via Dayton), Michael Carrera (via Marinos de Anzoátegui) and Kuany Kuany (via Chaminade) joined the roster. Carrera suffered a medial meniscus tear in his right knee during a preseason game against Perth on September 23 and underwent surgery, ruling him out for four to six weeks, with Cairns signing Jerry Evans Jr (via Sandringham) to a short-term contract as his injury replacement.
Evans Jr (1 point, 2 rebounds, and 1 block) made his NBL debut in Cairns’ opening game against Illawarra on October 6 as the Taipans defeated the Hawks 88-87, with Loughton (19 points and 3 rebounds) scoring 16 points in the second half and making the game-winning free throw with 0.8 seconds remaining and McCarron (14 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal) also contributing, while AJ Ogilvy (22 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) led Illawarra. Jawai (12 points and 4 rebounds) also injured his left foot during the game, with scans later revealing a partial ligament tear which required surgery and ruled him out for 12 weeks.
Evans Jr (7.5 points and 4.6 rebounds across 22 games) arrived in Cairns after averaging 21.1 points and 9.2 rebounds with Sandringham during the SEABL season but had also spent the off-season training with Melbourne United and played in their preseason games against visiting American college teams, scoring 12 points against Wisconsin before recording 11 points and 10 rebounds against Texas. Fearne said, “I thought he played well against Wisconsin and Texas. I liked his length, his activity, his ability to defend and also be disruptive. It was impressive.” He added, “I called [United Head Coach] Dean Vickerman to get his opinion of him, and he had nothing but positive things to say. United have a similar offensive system to us, so it should be an easy transition.”
Evans played Cairns’ first four games while Carrera recovered from knee surgery before Carrera (14.2 points and 3.6 rebounds across 5 games) returned against Perth on October 22. Evans then sat out the Taipans’ next six games because Carrera had reclaimed Cairns’ import spot, with no injury to Evans reported during that period. Jawai’s foot injury created a separate vacancy, with Chris Patton (via Kilsyth) signed as his injury replacement. Carrera then suffered an ankle injury against Melbourne on November 9 and Evans was brought back into the squad, returning against Illawarra on November 18, with NBL coverage describing him as “fresh off the plane”. Carrera’s ankle failed to recover as quickly as hoped and Cairns agreed to end his contract on December 14, leaving Evans in the full-time import role for the remainder of the season. Patton’s injury-replacement stint also ended after Jawai returned in January, with Patton subsequently joining Melbourne.
Evans Jr (15 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 blocks) delivered his first major performance after returning against Sydney on December 2, coming alive during the fourth quarter and hitting a three-pointer which helped spark Cairns’ comeback as the Taipans defeated the Kings 80-71. Loughton (15 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks) and Gliddon (12 points and 5 assists) provided support, while Jerome Randle (24 points and 3 steals) led Sydney.
Evans Jr produced his season-high scoring game against Brisbane on December 14, finishing with 18 points and 9 rebounds as Cairns’ four-game winning streak ended with a 75-74 loss at the Cairns Convention Centre. Egwu (14 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) and McCarron (12 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 steals) provided support, while Perrin Buford (17 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks) blocked Cairns’ potential game-winner in the final seconds.
Evans Jr’s best game of the season came against New Zealand on January 7, where he finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 3 blocks as Cairns was defeated 82-69 in Auckland. Gliddon (15 points and 2 steals) and Weeks (15 points) provided support, while Edgar Sosa (19 points and 6 assists) led the Breakers.
Gliddon (12.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 steals across 28 games) and Loughton (12.6 points and 3.6 rebounds across 28 games) led Cairns offensively, while McCarron (11.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.2 steals across 28 games), Smith (10 points and 3 rebounds across 28 games), Weeks (8.3 points across 28 games) and Egwu (5.3 points and 4.7 rebounds across 28 games) were the other main contributors. Gliddon and McCarron shared Cairns’ Most Valuable Player award, while Loughton collected the Members’ Choice MVP, Coaches Award and Players’ Player awards, McCarron was named Best Defensive Player and Jawai received the Commitment to Community award.
The season was also Fearne’s last as head coach, with Cairns deciding not to renew his contract following a 19-year association with the organisation, including nine seasons as head coach. Fearne said the club had decided “that it is time for a new voice to carry the club forward into a new era.”
Cairns closed the season against Perth at Perth Arena on February 18, where Evans Jr (12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) and Gliddon (12 points, 3 assists, and 1 steal) led the Taipans, while Cotton (24 points and 6 assists) led Perth to an 89-61 win. Cairns finished sixth with an 11-17 record and missed the playoffs.
Jerry Evans Jr played one season in the NBL. He averaged 7.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 0.6 assists in 22 NBL games.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | 27 | Cairns | 11-17 (6) | 22 | 374 | 165 | 102 | 15 | 40 | 62 | 14 | 13 | 23 | 50 | 57 | 150 | 38% | 19 | 60 | 32% | 32 | 51 | 63% | 44% | 18 | Totals | 22 | 374 | 165 | 102 | 15 | 40 | 62 | 14 | 13 | 23 | 50 | 57 | 150 | 38.0% | 19 | 60 | 31.7% | 32 | 51 | 62.7% | 48% | 44% | 18 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | 27 | Cairns | 11-17 (6) | 22 | 17.0 | 7.5 | 4.6 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 6.8 | 38% | 0.9 | 2.7 | 32% | 1.5 | 2.3 | 63% | 44% | 18 | Total | 22 | 17.0 | 7.5 | 4.6 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 6.8 | 38.0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 31.7% | 0.9 | 2.7 | 62.7% | 48% | 44% | 18 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 18 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
|---|
STATE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
- Sandringham (2017), Ballarat (2019)
Evans Jr joined Sandringham for the 2017 SEABL season, where he played for the Sabres and averaged 21.1 points and 9.2 rebounds per game where he was the leagues fourth-leading scorer.
Jerry Evans Jr joined Ballarat for the 2019 NBL1 season, where he averaged 18.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists across 22 games for the Miners, helped Ballarat finish the regular season as minor premiers with a 16–4 record, and earned All-Star Five selection.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- New Zealand - Nelson (2018)
Evans Jr. joined the Nelson Giants for the 2018 New Zealand NBL season, playing his first season in New Zealand, and RealGM records show he signed with Nelson on 21 February 2018.
In 2018 Jerry Evans played in New Zealand for the Nelson Giants and averaged 13.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists across 15 games.
With Nelson in 2018, Evans also averaged 1.1 steals, 0.5 blocks, and 27.7 minutes per game.
During the 2018 season, Evans scored 16 points against the Super City Rangers in a Nelson win on 28 April 2018.
COLLEGE
Jerry Evans Jr. suited up for Nevada from the 2010–11 season through the 2013–14 season, finishing his Wolf Pack career with 126 games played and 107 starts while totaling 985 points, 623 rebounds, 100 assists, 92 steals, and 53 blocks, with shooting splits of 42.7% from the field, 34.7% from three-point range, and 74.6% at the free throw line across 3,266 minutes.
As a freshman in 2010–11, Evans appeared in 31 games and made 20 starts, averaging 4.9 points and 3.5 rebounds in 19.1 minutes per game while posting season totals of 152 points and 109 rebounds, and he recorded four double-figure scoring games highlighted by a season-high 15 points at Hawai‘i, plus a top rebounding night of eight boards at Portland, as Nevada finished 13–19 overall and 8–8 in WAC play.
In 2011–12, Evans started all 35 games and was named to the WAC All-Defensive Team while averaging 6.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 0.5 blocks per game, producing 234 points and 164 rebounds on the season, and he set a then career-high with 19 points against San Jose State while making 5-of-6 three-pointers in a game where Nevada hit 16 threes, while also opening the year with a then career-high 12 rebounds against Missouri State as the Wolf Pack went 28–7 overall and 13–1 in WAC play.
As a junior in 2012–13, Evans played 29 games with 22 starts and led Nevada in rebounding at 5.4 per game, adding 7.5 points and 1.2 assists per game while totaling 218 points and 157 rebounds, and he posted double-figure scoring six times including 14 points vs San Diego State, 12 vs Boise State, and 14 at UNLV, while logging a career-high 14 rebounds against Cal Poly and adding back-to-back double-digit rebound games with 10 vs #25 Wyoming and 11 at Fresno State, as Nevada finished 12–19 overall and 3–13 in its first season in the Mountain West.
In his senior season (2013–14), Evans started 30 of 31 games, earned Nevada’s team top defender award, and delivered career-best production of 12.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game while shooting 35.8% from three and 78.9% at the line, finishing with 381 points and 193 rebounds along with 26 steals and 17 blocks, and he tied for game-high scoring with 17 points at San Diego State while also reaching 20 points for the first time with 20 against #19 UCLA and then setting a career-high 25 points at UC Davis on 7-of-11 shooting with 4-of-6 from three and 7-of-8 free throws during a stretch where he recorded four 20-plus point games in seven outings.
Evans’ three career double-doubles all came as a senior, with 21 points and 11 rebounds vs Long Beach State plus 17 points and 10 rebounds and 11 points and 13 rebounds in the Air Force series, and he logged multiple game-high rebounding performances including nine vs Pacific, 11 vs Long Beach State, and 13 at Air Force, while Nevada concluded 2013–14 at 15–17 overall and 10–8 in Mountain West play, losing in the Mountain West tournament quarterfinals to Boise State.
Related
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