The University of Maine appears to have added the next piece of the puzzle in rebuilding the men’s basketball program.
Danny Evans, a native of England who served as a captain last winter at Phillips Andover Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, made a verbal commitment on Monday to join the Black Bears in the fall, according to both New England Recruiting Report and Verbal Commits.
Evans, a 6-foot-4 point guard, averaged more than 17 points per game and shot 45 percent from the field in helping lead the Big Blue to an 8-7 New England Preparatory School Athletic Council record. His efforts earned him a spot on the All-NEPSAC Class A Second Team.
UMaine head coach Bob Walsh is prohibited by NCAA rules from discussing a recruit until after he has signed a National Letter of Intent. The late signing period begins on April 15.
Judging from his highlight video, Evans possesses the ability to score from long range with his preferred fall-away 3-point shot. He spent the summer playing for the United Kingdom’s 18-and-under team, where he averaged 3.1 points and three rebounds in 18 minutes per game at the Division B European Championships.
Evans reportedly garnered several scholarship offers at the Division I and II levels, including an initial offer from Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island.
As a bigger guard more similar to UMaine’s Lavar Harewood, Evans should provide a complement to the Black Bears’ assortment of smaller guards such as Kevin Little, Aaron Calixte and Ryan Bernstein.
UMaine is looking to replace two departing seniors, guard Shaun Lawton and post player Till Gloger.
In December, before returning from spending Christmas break in England, Evans told Hoopsfix, “The biggest difference for me compared to back in the UK was having college coaches coming in and out of the gym to look at you so often.”
According to Hoopsfix, Evans also received interest from the likes of Holy Cross, Vermont, Brown and Columbia.