Jawun Evans Is Budding Into a Star at just the right time for Oklahoma State

Going into Tuesday evening’s matchup, Oklahoma State was riding an uninspiring four-game losing streak and coming off emotional losses to both Oklahoma and Texas.

But there have been bright spots in the losses. The defense is giving up fewer points per possession, Travis Ford is getting more production from his bigs on the boards and, more importantly, a rising star has emerged in the form of a 6-foot freshman Jawun Evans.

Since Big 12 play began, Evans, the former five-star phenom, is averaging a cool 18.7 points per game and 6.3 assists.

After struggling with consistency before conference play early in the season and, at times, looking physically outmatched and outhustled, Evans seems to be hitting his stride and coming into form.

Evans averaged 23.5 points, 7.5 assists and 7.3 rebounds his senior year at Dallas Kimball, and was named a McDonald’s All-American. After impressing in the summer, he later went on to make the USA U19 squad.

“He’s a true point guard that can change a game in a lot of different ways,” Travis Ford said last year about Evans. “Not just by scoring. If he’s got a couple guys around him that can shoot and get hot, it’d be nothing for him to get 10 assists. That’s just second nature.”

His maturation at the collegiate level has shown his ability to not only find guys as a point guard [that’s kind of his job!], but also his evolution as a multiple-threat guard who can not only drive and dish but also finish consistently around the rim despite his smaller stature.. His scoring has been integral to the success the Cowboys have found in conference play.

Jawun Evans, baller. pic.twitter.com/OXKXKVtCqk

— Pistols Firing (@pistolsguys) January 20, 2016

Most encouraging in his rising star is the competition in which he is performing the highest.

Evans has been solid against equal competition, but has stepped up in the teams biggest games, dropping 42 in a close loss to now top-ranked Oklahoma, and dropping 22 in an upset over Kansas on Tuesday.

Said Kansas coach Bill Self on Tuesday: “They’ve got an all-American in their midst that’s going to be fun to watch.”

If Evans can continue his development both as a distributor and scorer, the Cowboys could be a dangerous team down the stretch of the season led by the poised true freshman.