The Blue Devil freshman is still free to go through the draft process because he announced his desire to return to Duke.
College basketball players frequently change their minds, but the Duke basketball team hopes that Isaiah Evans stays true to his principles and returns to Durham next season.
Evans‘ name surfaced on the NBA’s list of early entry candidates for the 2025 Draft after it was confirmed last week that he would return to the Blue Devils for his sophomore season.
Granted, his inclusion on the list does not preclude him from returning to Duke, but he now has the opportunity to participate in the NBA Draft Combine, if invited, as well as have private workouts with companies to discover what he needs to work on to prepare for the 2026 NBA Draft.
The tall 6-foot-6 freshman averaged 6.8 points per game on 41.6% 3-point shooting, with the majority of his scores coming from beyond the arc.
Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and Khaman Maluach were also on the list, as each of the rookies had previously indicated their decision to forego the balance of their eligibility.
There was a lot of talk about Isaiah Evans’ decision shortly after Duke’s season ended, with some believing he would join the draft or use the transfer portal.
Evans was projected to be taken toward the end of the first round, which was surprising given his slim body and lack of exhibiting other essential aspects of his game that would make him a high-level NBA player.
In the end, Blue Devil head coach Jon Scheyer persuaded the former 5-star prospect to stay with the team for another season, since he is expected to be one of the best performers next season.
Flagg, Knueppel, and Maluach are expected to be selected in the lottery at the June draft.
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