THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 19, 1995 TAG: 9505190630
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 133 lines
Former Booker T. Washington High star Michael Evans, putting an end to a college career that never really got started, has made himself available for the June 28 NBA draft.
Evans, who has not played college basketball since 1993, was on a list of ``early entry candidates'' released Thursday by the NBA.
``Michael was of the opinion that it was time to get into the system,'' said his agent, Wayne G. Souza of Virginia Beach. ``Given his age, it's not an inappropriate time. I think he clearly has the skills to play in the NBA.''
Evans could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Evans, 22, was enrolled at Norfolk State - his fourth college since he graduated from Booker T. in 1992 - but was not eligible to play for the Spartans last season. By signing with an agent, he has forfeited any remaining college eligibility.
``I don't know if he's going to get drafted,'' Souza said. ``We're going to do everything we can to make sure he's drafted.''
Evans, a 6-foot-2 point guard, would seem to have little chance of being drafted. Although he was a Parade All-American in high school, considered on a par with players like 1995 NBA co-rookie of the year Jason Kidd, his sole college playing experience is a year at Okaloosa-Walton Junior College in 1992-93.
Evans appeared headed for Virginia or Old Dominion coming out of high school but didn't qualify academically. He headed to Okaloosa-Walton, where he averaged 21.6 points and 7.7 assists.
From there Evans headed to the University of New Orleans, where he stayed just a semester. He returned home briefly, then left again, saying only that he was living in New York City and attending a junior college.
Evans left school again after the 1994 academic year and returned home. He enrolled at Norfolk State in January, and would have been eligible to play the second half of the 1995-96 season for the Spartans.
But Evans practiced with Norfolk State for just a couple of weeks, according to a source close to the program. Evans also said he needed time off to be with his grandmother, who was ill, the source said. Evans also said he felt like he was a distraction to the other players, the source said.
``He disappeared and we didn't see him for a while,'' the source said.
NSU coach Mike Bernard could not be reached for comment.
One NBA team that has expressed interest in Evans is Toronto, an expansion franchise that will enter the league next year. Evans recently went to Toronto to work out for team officials, a source close to him said.
Former Booker T. Washington High star Michael Evans, putting an end to a college career that never really got started, has made himself available for the June 28 NBA draft.
Evans, who has not played college basketball since 1993, was on a list of ``early entry candidates'' released Thursday by the NBA.
``Michael was of the opinion that it was time to get into the system,'' said his agent, Wayne G. Souza of Virginia Beach. ``Given his age, it's not an inappropriate time. I think he clearly has the skills to play in the NBA.''
Evans could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Evans, 22, was enrolled at Norfolk State - his fourth college since he graduated from Booker T. in 1992 - but was not eligible to play for the Spartans last season. By signing with an agent, he has forfeited any remaining college eligibility.
``I don't know if he's going to get drafted,'' Souza said. ``We're going to do everything we can to make sure he's drafted.''
Evans, a 6-foot-2 point guard, would seem to have little chance of being drafted. Although he was a Parade All-American in high school, considered on a par with players like 1995 NBA co-rookie of the year Jason Kidd, his sole college playing experience is a year at Okaloosa-Walton Junior College in 1992-93.
Evans appeared headed for Virginia or Old Dominion coming out of high school but didn't qualify academically. He headed to Okaloosa-Walton, where he averaged 21.6 points and 7.7 assists.
From there Evans headed to the University of New Orleans, where he stayed just a semester. He returned home briefly, then left again, saying only that he was living in New York City and attending a junior college.
Evans left school again after the 1994 academic year and returned home. He enrolled at Norfolk State in January, and would have been eligible to play the second half of the 1995-96 season for the Spartans.
But Evans practiced with Norfolk State for just a couple of weeks, according to a source close to the program. Evans also said he needed time off to be with his grandmother, who was ill, the source said. Evans also said he felt like he was a distraction to the other players, the source said.
``He disappeared and we didn't see him for a while,'' the source said.
NSU coach Mike Bernard could not be reached for comment.
One NBA team that has expressed interest in Evans is Toronto, an expansion franchise that will enter the league next year. Evans recently went to Toronto to work out for team officials, a source close to him said.
Former Booker T. Washington High star Michael Evans, putting an end to a college career that never really got started, has made himself available for the June 28 NBA draft.
Evans, who has not played college basketball since 1993, was on a list of ``early entry candidates'' released Thursday by the NBA.
``Michael was of the opinion that it was time to get into the system,'' said his agent, Wayne G. Souza of Virginia Beach. ``Given his age, it's not an inappropriate time. I think he clearly has the skills to play in the NBA.''
Evans could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Evans, 22, was enrolled at Norfolk State - his fourth college since he graduated from Booker T. in 1992 - but was not eligible to play for the Spartans last season. By signing with an agent, he has forfeited any remaining college eligibility.
``I don't know if he's going to get drafted,'' Souza said. ``We're going to do everything we can to make sure he's drafted.''
Evans, a 6-foot-2 point guard, would seem to have little chance of being drafted. Although he was a Parade All-American in high school, considered on a par with players like 1995 NBA co-rookie of the year Jason Kidd, his sole college playing experience is a year at Okaloosa-Walton Junior College in 1992-93.
Evans appeared headed for Virginia or Old Dominion coming out of high school but didn't qualify academically. He headed to Okaloosa-Walton, where he averaged 21.6 points and 7.7 assists.
From there Evans headed to the University of New Orleans, where he stayed just a semester. He returned home briefly, then left again, saying only that he was living
in New York City and attending a junior college.
Evans left school again after the 1994 academic year and returned home. He enrolled at Norfolk State in January, and would have been eligible to play the second half of the 1995-96 season for the Spartans.
But Evans practiced with Norfolk State for just a couple of weeks, according to a source close to the program. Evans also said he needed time off to be with his grandmother, who was ill, the source said. Evans also said he felt like he was a distraction to the other players, the source said.
He disappeared and we didn't see him for a while,'' the source said.
NSU coach Mike Bernard could not be reached for comment.
One NBA team that has expressed interest in Evans is Toronto, an expansion franchise that will enter the league next year. Evans recently went to Toronto to work out for team officials, a source close to him said. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Michael Evans, a Parade All-American at Booker T. Washington, worked
out for Toronto Raptors officials.
by CNB