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2017 NBA Draft: 5 potential first round sleepers

By Max Holm

Mar 4, 2017; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jawun Evans (1) drives to the basket as Kansas Jayhawks forward Landen Lucas (33) defends during the second half at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Kansas won 90-85. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jawun Evans (1) drives to the basket as Kansas Jayhawks forward Landen Lucas (33) defends during the second half at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Kansas won 90-85. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 16, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jawun Evans (1) during practice the day before the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jawun Evans (1) during practice the day before the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Jawun Evans, PG, Oklahoma State

The deepest position in the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery is at point guard. Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball, Dennis Smith Jr., De’Aaron Fox and Frank Ntilikina are all projected to go in the lottery. Even though the quality and quantity of point guards certainly decreases after those five are off the board, don’t sleep on Jawun Evans.

Evans spent two years at Oklahoma State, where he was the conductor and orchestrator as a sophomore. He averaged 19.2 points, 6.4 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game while shooting well from three-point and free throw line. In addition, Evans assisted on over 40 percent of his team’s baskets when on the floor in both seasons. Despite being under six feet tall, he’s a pick-and-roll maestro who lived in the paint.

He’ll need to maintain his good shooting numbers, but needs to improve his finishing. According to Hoop-Math, Evans shot just 50 percent at the rim, a very poor mark for a point guard. He’ll have to overcome his lack of height, but has an abnormally long wingspan to compensate.

Teams looking for point guard help would be smart to buy in on Evans after the big names are off the table. He projects to be a strong backup point guard with the potential to even be a lower quality starter.

Potentially good fits: Pistons (12th), Bulls (16th), Pacers (18th), Jazz (24th)

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