North Mecklenburg’s Isaiah Evans, N.C. Mr. Basketball, adds Gatorade player of the year
Last week, North Mecklenburg High School senior Isaiah Evans was named the best boys’ high school basketball player in North Carolina, earning the title of Mr. Basketball.
Thursday morning, on the eve of March Madness, Evans was named N.C. Gatorade player of the year, just 24 hours after he won the MaxPreps’ N.C. player of the year award.
“What is there not to say about the great Isaiah Evans?,” said Mooresville High boys’ basketball coach Armard Moore. “He is a generational gift. This kid is the best high school basketball player I have ever coached against. He can shoot, he can get to his spots, he can pass, he can defend. The kid is really good.”
For Mr. Basketball, the state’s biggest award, Evans, a 6-foot-7, 177-pound McDonald’s All-American signed to Duke, was selected over finalists Paul McNeil of Richmond Senior and Drake Powell of Northwood. McNeil has signed with N.C. State. Powell, a McDonald’s All-American, has signed with UNC.
The Charlotte Observer has handed out the state’s top high school basketball award since the 1984-85 season, and Strong is the first repeat winner, though prior to the 2020-21 season, only seniors were eligible for the honor.
This season, Evans led North Mecklenburg to a 30-3 record and the school’s third N.C. 4A state championship. He averaged 27.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.4 steals and 1.3 blocks for the Vikings. Evans is ranked No. 11 nationally in the senior class.
In a state quarterfinal win over Myers Park, Evans had 48 points against a Mustangs’ team that was ranked No. 4 nationally.
On March 20, Evans repeated as MaxPreps’ N.C. state player of the year and is now a candidate for the website’s All-America team.
“Isaiah is special,” North Meck coach Duane Lewis said. “It is that simple, Isaiah is special.”
Evans began his career on North Meck’s junior varsity as a freshman, but has been a starter since his sophomore year.
He’s scored more than 2,000 career varsity points in three seasons.
Due to his slender build and shot-making ability, Evans has drawn comparisons to former high school stars Brandon Ingram and Kevin Durant.
“I get the Brandon Ingram and Kevin Durant comparisons,” Evans said. “But, I don’t know, I’m just a different type of player. I’m my own type of player.”
Previous Mr. Basketball winners
2022-23: Isaiah Evans, North Mecklenburg
2021-22: Cade Tyson, Carmel Christian
2020-21: Terquavion Smith, Farmville Central
2019-20: Tristan Maxwell, North Mecklenburg
2018-19: Wendell Moore, Cox Mill
2017-18: Coby White, Greenfield School
2016-17: Lavar Batts, Concord Robinson
2015-16: Edrice Adebayo, High Point Christian
2014-15: Brandon Ingram, Kinston
2013-14: Theo Pinson, High Point Christian
2012-13: Isaiah Hicks, Oxford Webb
2011-12: Rodney Purvis, Raleigh Upper Room
2010-11: Terry Whisnant, Cherryville
2009-10: Reggie Bullock, Kinston
2008-09: Mason Plumlee, Arden Christ School
2007-08: Ty Walker, Wilmington N. Hanover
2006-07: Demontez Stitt, Butler
2005-06: Will Graves, Greensboro Dudley
2004-05: Kevin Swinton, Greensboro Dudley
2003-04: Anthony Morrow, Charlotte Latin
2002-03: Chris Paul, West Forsyth
2001-02: Shavlik Randolph, Raleigh Broughton
2000-01: Anthony Richardson, Raleigh Leesville Road
1999-00: Scooter Sherrill, West Rowan
1998-99: Jason Parker, West Charlotte
1997-98: Kris Lang, Gastonia Huss
1996-97: Jenis Grindstaff, Marion McDowell
1995-96: Vincent Whitt, Greensboro Dudley
1994-95: Antawn Jamison, Providence
1993-94: Ishua Benjamin, Concord
1992-93: Jeff Capel, Hope Mills South View
1991-92: Todd Fuller, Charlotte Christian
1990-91: Donald Williams, Garner
1989-90: Rodney Rogers, Durham Hillside
1988-89: Bryant Feggins, Winston-Salem Glenn
1987-88: Kenny Williams, Elizabeth City Northeastern
1986-87: Henrik Rodl, Chapel Hill
1985-86: Robert Brickey, Fayetteville Smith
1984-85: Chucky Brown, North Brunswick
This story was originally published March 15, 2024 at 5:30 AM.
