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Rumors speculate KSU could land junior-college star Evans

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By David Carducci
June 4, 2008

By David Carducci

Record-Courier staff writer

Could junior-college star Tyree Evans end up playing basketball at Kent State now that he has asked to be released from his letter of intent at the University of Maryland?

Several Internet rumors originating in Tennessee, where the 6-foot-3 Evans averaged 21.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game for Motlow Community College, are speculating that may be the case.

Even with Terrapins head coach Gary Williams championing Evans, Maryland hedged on granting admission to the sharp-shooting 23-year-old guard because of two criminal misdemeanors from his past.

A month-long, campus-wide debate at Maryland led to Evans asking for his release last week, and Kent State would appear to be a good fit as a new home. Evans' former Motlow teammate Frank Henry-Ala is a member of the Golden Flashes' 2008 recruiting class and former Motlow head coach Bobby Steinberg is about to be introduced as an assistant coach at KSU, filling out Geno Ford's first staff.

Kent State has found success in the past when taking a chance on athletes with checkered pasts. Antonio Gates and Abram Elam both had their troubles before arriving in Kent. Both proved to be solid citizens during their time at KSU and are now playing in the NFL.

According to a story in the Baltimore Sun, Evans was charged with the statutory rape of a 15-year-old female classmate at The Winchendon School in Massachusetts back in 2004. He pleaded guilty to a reduced assault-related misdemeanor two years later, but the original accusation had already led to Bob Huggins backing off on recruiting Evans to Cincinnati.

Evans also pleaded to a misdemeanor marijuana charge last year, and was sentenced to 12 months in jail. All but one month of the sentence was suspended contingent on good behavior and community service.

"The problem with Tyree is that he's always had cling-ons," Steinburg told the Baltimore Sun. "He had an entourage in high school, and he was too immature to be able to handle that, and most people are."

According to sources close to the player, Evans has matured in the last year and is making better choices in his life.

Even if Kent State was inclined to take a chance on Evans, it may not be able to fit him onto the roster. The Flashes do not have a scholarship available at the moment. Kentucky, Mississippi State and Texas Tech are also rumored to be interested in Evans should Maryland choose not to admit him. Evans previously chose to sign with Maryland over offers from Arizona, Florida State and Kansas State.




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 5 Total Comments
5.
    Posted by pchillbilly June 5, 2008
Quote from above:
"
A month-long, campus-wide debate at Maryland led to Evans asking for his release last week, and Kent State would appear to be a good fit as a new home."

Of course it seems like a good fit. KSU has a long and dignified history of bringing thugs into its athletics programs (before you all start on me, this includes the Ice Hockey team fiasco of years ago... a thug is a thug).

I say, dig the moat and fill it with water. Don't let him in.

4.
    Posted by KentBiz June 5, 2008
Singletary is not a bad kid. Everyone makes a mistkae- he's still a teenager for Christ's sake.

3.
    Posted by AndrewP June 4, 2008
Normally, I'd be one of the first to tell Kent State to try and sign him...but after reading about his past problems...I'd say no. We have enough as it is (Singletary).

The only way, ksu323, that we could get this kid...is if he transfers and becomes a walk-on.

2.
    Posted by ksu323 June 4, 2008
David, as you mentioned we don't have any scholarships left, so how would we go about getting him?

1.
    Posted by auburn smith June 4, 2008
Who needs this guy? He has had zipper problems and dope problems. Why do we have be the MAC home for rehab. Well, I guess after we forgot about Josh Cribbs and his inconvenient legal problems in Kent, we can welcome this guy too.

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