The University of Louisville men’s basketball program announced the signing of Dennis Evans, a talented 7-foot-1 center from Hillcrest High School in Riverside, California. Evans has signed a national letter of intent to join the Cardinals in the 2023 class.
UofL head coach Kenny Payne expressed his enthusiasm for the newest addition to the team, stating, “We’re blessed to add one of the most unique high school players in the country in Dennis Evans. He’s an elite defensive player with unbelievable skill. It’s going to be a joy to watch him grow and become one of the best players in college basketball. There’s no limit on the potential of how good he can be. He’s a tremendous human being that has the character and the discipline that we sorely need in this program.”
As a senior at Hillcrest, Evans averaged 14.7 points, 10.6 rebounds, 5.9 blocks, and 2.3 assists per game. He concluded his high school career as the school’s all-time leader in blocks (563) and triple-doubles (7), and ranked second in both scoring (1,083 career points) and rebounds (794). Evans’ shooting stats include a 54% success rate from the field, 33% from the 3-point line, and 74% from the free-throw line.
Evans displayed exceptional skills as a junior, recording five games with 10 or more blocks, including a state record of 16 blocks in a single game. This performance helped Hillcrest secure a River Valley League Championship in 2022. Evans boasts an impressive 9-foot-8 standing reach and a 7-foot-7 wingspan.
In addition to his achievements at the high school level, Evans was a member of the U17 USA Basketball team, which won the gold medal at the FIBA championships in Malaga, Spain, last summer. He has also participated in the USA junior national team training camp. With such an impressive record, Dennis Evans is expected to be an invaluable asset to the University of Louisville men’s basketball program.
