Utah Jazz 2018 NBA Draft Profile: Jacob Evans

Cincinnati product Jacob Evans could potentially be a nice option for the Utah Jazz in the 2018 NBA Draft due to his build and 3-and-D potential.

With just two days remaining before the 2018 NBA Draft as of this writing, the clock is rapidly ticking away for the Utah Jazz. There’s been ample discussion about how there are several worthy prospects for the Jazz to consider at pick No. 21 and it will be fascinating to see who they end up with.

Among all the chatter, an interesting bit of news surfaced following Utah’s final pre-draft workout on Sunday. Jazz VP of Player Personnel Walt Perrin called it a “very good workout” and claimed that the Jazz were able to finish off the pre-draft process “with a bang” due to how competitive it was. Upon hearing this, one can’t help but speculate that perhaps one of the players who participated in the workout may very well have proven his worth and jumped up on Utah’s draft big board.

My J-Notes colleague Zack Padmore already covered one player from that workout that could fit the bill and may very well be available at No. 21 – Dzanan Musa. However, another player that figures to be a viable option in Utah’s range that was present at the workout was Cincinnati standout Jacob Evans.

At six-foot-six, 210 pounds, Jacob Evans is built like a tank and figures to be an excellent 3-and-D prospect. His frame is somewhat reminiscent of that of Jae Crowder, albeit not quite as hefty. Still, his measurables should give him the versatility to guard multiple positions, making him quite an attractive target, particularly for the Jazz who are in need of such a talent.

Not only will his defensive versatility make him a sought-after commodity, but he had flashes of being an excellent 3-point shooter during his time at Cincinnati. In his final season, he shot a respectable 37 percent from deep, but the year prior, he went an impressive 41.8 percent.

Between his potentially elite defensive ability with a nice mixture of size and strength as well as a promising shot and good athleticism, Evans has all the marks of being a nice fit for the Jazz. He’d likely add to the hard-nosed defensive reputation that the Jazz have built and serve as a bulldog on that end of the floor while bringing a nice touch to the offense as well.

Some of the concerns regarding Evans have to do with his ability to drive and create his own shot as well as adding more dynamic shooting to his game. While he’s certainly a versatile defensive player, he could benefit from inheriting a more well-rounded offensive game. Even though his D is nice, the Jazz would likely want him to transform into more of a playmaker offensively in order for him to reach his potential as the ultimate fit.

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There are a lot of things to like about Jacob Evans. He comes from a relentless defensive background with the Cincinnati Bearcats and he’s a guy that plays with an unyielding energy and effort that ought to make coaches swoon. However, his offense still has some holes that need patched up and he needs to prove that his 3-point shooting is as crisp as it was in his sophomore season rather than in his junior year.

If Evans is available at No. 21 and the Jazz prize his physicality, strength and 3-and-D potential above what other prospects bring, he could very well be the one who has his name called for that pick. We’re rapidly approaching the 48-hour countdown leading up to when we’ll finally know for sure.