The Huskies could be without three starters and a head coach when the 2012-13 season begins. But it's not an exodus-only situation in Storrs. Top recruit, Omar Calhoun, insists that he's still coming in the fall, and on Monday, Holy Cross guard R.J. Evans visited UConn. He'll graduate this spring but has a year of eligibility remaining and is considering using it while he attends business school. The only issue is where he'll play.
"It was always an option," Evans told the Worcester Telegram' Jennifer Toland. "I put it aside until after the season, went home and sat down with my family, and we thought it would be best for me to move on and further my education."
Wake Forest and the University of Virginia are also schools Evans is considering. Like Alex Oriakhi, Evans wouldn't have to sit out a year -- he could play immediately. (Oriahki because the Huskies are currently ineligible for the 2013 NCAA Tournament; Evans due the NCAA's transfer-exception rule.)
Evans averaged 11.5 points per game last season for Holy Cross and was the Patriot League Rookie of the Year in 2008-09. He's also a defensive stopper and among the team leaders in rebounds and steals.
Toland asked Evans if Holy Cross' recent struggles (they had back-to-back sub-.500 seasons) played a role in his decision to go elsewhere.
“I don’t think it did,” he said. “If it was that bad, I would have left after the first year. I had a great time at Holy Cross. In four years of my life I met a lot of great people, coaches, and my teammates — I love them to death. But it’s just something I had to do for myself and it was just time for me to move on.”
And Evans has the support of coach Milan Brown. "He understands I’m a grown man who has to make decisions,” Evans said, “and I’m grateful for that.”
And the Huskies could be grateful for Evans should he end up in Storrs. Especially if they lose Oriakhi, Andre Drummond, Jeremy Lamb and Jim Calhoun.
