JEFFERSON hoops standout Skylar Evanson signed with Andrew (Junior) College Thursday, and coach Samantha Paradise believes she’s nabbed a player that’s flown well under the radar.
“My assistant coach, coach (Blake) Coty, found her and talked to her and communicated with her,” said Paradise, who is in her first year with the program. “And I asked around to other local high schools that she’s played against, and everyone has told me she’s quite a steal and going to be a good asset to our program with her tenaciousness and passion and love for the game.”
Evanson has been one of Jefferson’s top scoring options the past two years.
She got Andrew College’s attention after she took part in an exposure camp and was already familiar with the school since Danni Cunningham — who played for neighboring rival Jackson County — had already signed there.
The combination of those two factors led Evanson to sign with Andrew College.
“Knowing that I knew somebody going to the same school kind of helped me really want to go there more and more,” Evanson said. “And I do love the game of basketball, so I do want to play.”
Evanson said she’ll focus the remainder of the offseason on two things.
“Getting in shape, definitely,” Evanson said. “It’s been a long summer. Getting in shape and working on my shooting because that’s my strong point.”
Paradise said Evanson could factor into Andrew College’s plans this year as either a shooting guard or small forward.
“I’m looking at the team and we’re pretty guard-heavy … finding where her niche is going to be is going to have to take place during practices and kind of where she wants to fight for.”
Evanson and Cunningham are part of an eight-member signing class so far for Paradise.
“With these girls, they’ll just be the start of a successful Andrew College,” she said.
Evanson said playing college ball is something that she’s thought about all during her basketball career. Having this opportunity has only reinforced that desire.
“I have wanted to play college ball, more so when I was younger,” Evanson said. “But as I got older, it kind of wore off. But now that I’m actually getting an opportunity, it makes me really want to now, and I’m actually really excited because it’s a big opportunity for me and I’m moving out on my own.”
After her two years of eligibility at Andrew College are over, she’s open to the idea of perhaps playing at a four-year school.
“If it opens up, I’ll definitely consider it,” she said.
