By David Carducci
Record-Courier staff writer
Could junior-college star Tyree Evans end up playing basketball at Kent State now that he has asked to be released from his letter of intent at the University of Maryland?
Several Internet rumors originating in Tennessee, where the 6-foot-3 Evans averaged 21.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game for Motlow Community College, are speculating that may be the case.
Even with Terrapins head coach Gary Williams championing Evans, Maryland hedged on granting admission to the sharp-shooting 23-year-old guard because of two criminal misdemeanors from his past.
A month-long, campus-wide debate at Maryland led to Evans asking for his release last week, and Kent State would appear to be a good fit as a new home. Evans' former Motlow teammate Frank Henry-Ala is a member of the Golden Flashes' 2008 recruiting class and former Motlow head coach Bobby Steinberg is about to be introduced as an assistant coach at KSU, filling out Geno Ford's first staff.
Kent State has found success in the past when taking a chance on athletes with checkered pasts. Antonio Gates and Abram Elam both had their troubles before arriving in Kent. Both proved to be solid citizens during their time at KSU and are now playing in the NFL.
According to a story in the Baltimore Sun, Evans was charged with the statutory rape of a 15-year-old female classmate at The Winchendon School in Massachusetts back in 2004. He pleaded guilty to a reduced assault-related misdemeanor two years later, but the original accusation had already led to Bob Huggins backing off on recruiting Evans to Cincinnati.
Evans also pleaded to a misdemeanor marijuana charge last year, and was sentenced to 12 months in jail. All but one month of the sentence was suspended contingent on good behavior and community service.
"The problem with Tyree is that he's always had cling-ons," Steinburg told the Baltimore Sun. "He had an entourage in high school, and he was too immature to be able to handle that, and most people are."
According to sources close to the player, Evans has matured in the last year and is making better choices in his life.
Even if Kent State was inclined to take a chance on Evans, it may not be able to fit him onto the roster. The Flashes do not have a scholarship available at the moment. Kentucky, Mississippi State and Texas Tech are also rumored to be interested in Evans should Maryland choose not to admit him. Evans previously chose to sign with Maryland over offers from Arizona, Florida State and Kansas State.