UCF in Running for 5-Star Recruit Forward RJ Evans

UCF Knights men's basketball is in the running for five-star forward RJ Evans, who is prioritizing fit and opportunity before going to the NBA.

Evans is a local product and plays for The Academy of Central Florida. He is a Class of 2029 prospect and has fielded offers from UCF, Louisville, Kentucky and Iowa.

The Knights being among the programs building momentum for the sophomore is promising. Dawkins has landed commitments from high-ranking recruits over his decade-long tenure.

He landed four-star center Moustapha Thiam in 2024 and four-star forward Taylor Hendricks in 2022.

Thiam spent his freshman year with the Knights and averaged 10.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.6 blocks under coach Johnny Dawkins. He improved under Dawkins, but their relationship couldn't hold a candle to the NIL money he received when transferring to Cincinnati.

The Bearcats spent approximately $2 million on Thiam, according to the Orlando Sentinel . Thiam's departure left a sour taste in the mouths of UCF fans, and they let him hear it by booing him in his return to the Addition Financial Arena .

Hendricks became the highest-drafted Knight in 2023. The Utah Jazz drafted him ninth and had a promising rookie season.

He averaged 7.3 points and 4.6 rebounds, alongside nailing 37.9% of his threes. Hendrick's play that year fit the prototypical three-and-D wing that many teams in the league covet.

Evans wants opportunity, and UCF can provide that. Dawkins could prioritize his development over nine months and add him to the long list of Knights drafted in the NBA.

The competition is steep, though. Kentucky and Louisville are top programs in college basketball and routinely develop first-round picks.

Mikel Brown Jr. was the sixth pick by the Brooklyn Nets and scored 15 points in his preseason debut against the Miami Heat .

Prestige and NBA-level development would easily outweigh any influence UCF could have to land a commitment from Evans. He likely knows what NBA-level development is like as the son of former NBA player Reggie Evans.

Reggie Evans had a 13-year career in the NBA as a hard-nosed defender. He was a journeyman and had his best season in 2005-06, averaging 5.6 points while playing for the Seattle SuperSonics and Denver Nuggets .

RJ Evans would be one of UCF's highest-ranked commits if he decides to remain local. Landing high-level recruits is the best way for the program to transform into a perennial NCAA Tournament team.