Ayden Evans had 21 points and blocked seven shots against McCracken County. (Les Nicholson Photo)
In his state tournament debut Wednesday, 6-8 junior Ayden Evans of Elizabethtown had his typical stat-stuffing game.
He had 21 points on 6-for-12 shooting from the field, including 2-for-2 from 3, and made seven of eight free throws in the 48-44 win over McCracken County Wednesday. He also blocked seven shots, made three steals and grabbed four rebounds. Evans even had one assist in 28 minutes of play.
“I didn’t realize he had 21,” E-town coach James Haire said after the win. “It didn’t feel like it.”
Maybe that was because Evans — who has scholarship offers from Texas A&M, Seton Hall, West Virginia and others — had 10 points in the first quarter. However, McCracken County coach Dustin Roberts sure knew what Evans did.
“You don’t get anything easy. There is just no free pass to the basket,” Roberts said. “We were always keeping an eye on him. He’s really long, gets off the floor well, has good timing.”
Haire said despite his size, Evans is not a post player but plays there because Elizabethtown needs his size/length inside.
“At the next level he will be playing a totally different spot,” Haire said.
Evans said he doesn’t “dislike” playing center like his coach initially implied.
“I will do whatever to help my team win. If I have to play on the post to win, I will do it,” he said while adding this was a “normal” game for him. “I work on a little bit of everything to help my team.”
So how does Haire balance winning games but also developing Evans for the next level?
“In practice every day everybody goes through all the sets of drills,” Haire said. “I am trying to win basketball games at Elizabethtown. I am not his agent. I am not trying to get him a scholarship.
“We are just playing. He loves playing anywhere I ask him to play … or else. He likes everything I ask him to do.”
Elizabethtown will face Woodford County, an overtime winner of Jeffersontown Wednesday, in Friday’s first quarterfinal at 11 a.m.
“Woodford is very athletic. The first time I saw them play was today,” Haire said. “They have a lot of tremendous athletes. They guard very well.”
E-town has won eight straight games and the coach says the players are playing together better and making better decisions. He said the team has made major improvement late in the season.
“They used to think it was against the law to make two passes,” Haire said. “They do have freedom, something they exercise a lot.”
