Tre Evans has had quite a basketball career. He was a high school standout from Edmond North, to Fordham University at the division one level, and then back home to Southwestern Oklahoma State University to play for his dad. When I asked him what it was like at the division 1 level, he told me that every game he started gave him the confidence he has.
“I knew I had something to prove when I came to SWOSU and even though we didn’t make up for it with the wins there was no doubt who was the best player was on the court was every night.”
This year at the division two level he led the Great American Conference in scoring and was second in the country in free throws attempted at the NCAA Division II level. He attempted more free throws than the NCAA Division I level, and Evans wasn’t even first! Now the reason for this story is he has decided to forgo his senior year and head to the professional ranks. This wasn’t really a surprise as he stood out as the best player on the SWOSU roster.
“When I came to SWOSU it helped me by giving me the opportunity to be myself and play my game.”
When Evans came to SWOSU it was because his dad, Terry Evans, became the head coach. Tre told me that his dad has pushed him ever since he was young.
“My dad is a big part of my life and he instilled hard work in me. He shoed me how to work had and how to compete no matter who is across from me.”
Tre and his dad are very close. Terry Evans is the winningest coach of all time at the University of Central Oklahoma, a NCAA Division II school in Edmond Oklahoma, and he left there to go coach his son in high school. Although Tre is leaving to potentially go pro, Terry Evans is eager to bring his own recruits in and turn the Bulldog men’s basketball program.
Tre had a great year as he led the conference in scoring, had a career high 45 points in a win over Harding University. He continued to light up the scoreboard as the season went on, averaging 24 points per game. It was safe to say that Tre Evans would get his almost every night.
When I asked him about why he decided to go pro and what led him to make such a huge decision, he told me that after he talked to his family that this was just the best decision for him.
“I thought the best chance for me to get better as a player and as a young man was to leave and explore my options professionally.”
He told me several teams have already contacted him and are interested, both NBA and overseas teams. Tre told me that he was going to continue to “work extremely hard and have faith that everything else will fall into place.”
Tre will finish out the rest of this semester and continue to work out throughout the summer to pursue his dream.
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