Jacob Evans Declares for 2018 NBA Draft, Will Not Hire Agent

Cincinnati Bearcats junior guard Jacob Evans announced Sunday that he would declare for the NBA draft.

"I decided to enter the NBA draft after weighing my options with my family and coaches," he said, per Jonathan Givony of ESPN.com. "I feel it's the best move for me. An opportunity like this doesn't come around for many people, and I believe in my abilities and support team to go chase this dream of mine."

Evans hasn't hired an agent to this point, which means he still reserves the option to return for his senior season depending on the feedback he receives in the draft process, though that certainly isn't his plan.

"I didn't sign an agent yet, but I'm entering my name with plans on getting picked in the first round," he noted. "I'm not just testing to come back to school."

Evans averaged 13.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game, shooting 42.7 percent from the field and 37 percent from three this past season.

B/R's Jonathan Wasserman listed him as the No. 20 draft prospect in this year's NCAA Division I men's tournament, writing, "Evans' physical tools, toughness and versatility suggest he's a future NBA role player, even if the numbers aren't exciting. He could stand to improve as a one-on-one shot-creator, but at 6'6", 210 pounds, he can run pick-and-rolls, attack and score, shoot off the ball and defend multiple positions."

Givony, meanwhile, noted that Evans was ranked 24th amongst ESPN's NBA prospects. Jeremy Woo of SI.com has Evans ranked just 46th, however, noting, "The upside with Evans is limited, as he’s an erratic scorer and doesn’t create offense very well, nor is he aggressive attacking the rim. He has sort of a hard, flat jumper that has given some scouts pause. Evans has the benefit of being young for his class, but doesn’t offer much upside."

Evans, on the other hand, believes he made several key improvements in the 2017-18 season.

"The keys for me to having a good season was working on my jumper and ballhandling abilities," he said, per Givony. "I also took the next step mentally by learning to read the defense quicker so I'll know if I need to make the pass or take the shot myself. I believe most of the game is mental. The other part was I put the time in the gym and weight room to become a better shooter and better athlete."

It's yet to be seen if scouts and NBA general managers agree. Nonetheless, Evans has a solid shot of being a first-round pick and likely will be off the board early in the second round if he drops past the first 30 picks.