For many young players, a rocky outing can smother confidence and lead to hesitation when the game is on the line. But for sophomore guard/wing Isaiah Evans of Duke, the opposite is true — he doesn’t shy away from big moments because he already believes in himself.
After a rough second game of the season — in which Evans missed all five of his 3-point attempts and made only 1-of-8 shots — he responded emphatically. In a dominant 114-59 road win over Army Black Knights on Tuesday at West Point, New York, he scored 17 points, setting the tone in the first half and riding that momentum well into the second.
Evans said afterward: “I don’t think I feel any different. I knew I was that dude last year, but it wasn’t my role at the time. I was just ready to come in and do whatever Coach wanted me to do. Even right now, I feel like I’m just coming into the season a little bit more comfortable.”
For Evans, the confidence was never missing. What was missing was the full opportunity to show it. As a freshman, he averaged modest numbers but flashed offensive ability, especially as a 3-point shooter. With key departures and roster turnover at Duke, his role is growing — and he’s embracing it.
Through the first three games, Evans ranks second on the team in scoring, trailing only freshman star Cameron Boozer, and he’s showing he can impact the game in more than just one dimension: timely rebounds, improved defense, and a willingness to take big shots when needed. After a dazzling 23-point opener against Texas, Evans’s second-game slump was a minor blip — instead of hiding, he responded.
The Army game offered a clear example: Duke shot 56.9% from the field, made 16 threes, and saw Evans contribute 17 points while knocking down multiple long-range looks. He hit the first 3 of the game, got the crowd going early, and helped turn the contest into a rout. The Blue Devils improved to 3-0, and the win marked Duke’s highest point total in seven years.
Coach Jon Scheyer and the Duke staff have noticed Evans’s consistency and increased comfort in his expanded role. While Evans entered as a high-profile five-star recruit out of high school, the first season was mostly proven as his development year. Now, with fewer players ahead of him and a natural shooter’s mindset, he is ready to take the reins.
Evans’s quote – “I knew I was that dude last year, but it wasn’t my role at the time” – speaks volumes. It explains not only his mindset, but the understanding of his place on the team: high confidence, steady growth, and readiness to step up when the opportunity is there.
The evolution in his game is exactly what the Duke faithful and coaching staff were hoping to see. With opposing defenses likely to key on Boozer and other rising stars, Evans offers a complementary threat — one who doesn’t flinch when his number is called. The upcoming showdown at Madison Square Garden against Kansas Jayhawks (ranked No. 25) will be a test: a national spotlight, a historic venue, and full expectations. For Evans, though, that’s no cause for concern — he already knew he’s “that dude.”
Now it’s time for the rest of college basketball to catch up.
