New arrival thinking of home
New arrival keen to let his game do the talking
The revelation of a contract in the NBL came with a heavy heart for new Taipan and former University of Nevada power forward Jerry Evans Jr. The athletic power forward (in Cairns as an injury replacement for import Michael Carrera) says he is thinking of the 59 people dead and 527 injured in the Las Vegas gun massacre earlier this week. The 27-year-old has trained all week ahead of Friday’s season opener.
THE revelation of an NBL contract in Australia proved to be a bittersweet moment for new Cairns Taipan and former University of Nevada forward Jerry Evans Jr.
Evans is as an injury-replacement for import Michael Carrera, who is expected to miss the first month of the 2017-18 season, meaning his replacement will suit up on Friday night for the Snakes’ season opener.
But, as a four-year college basketballer with the University of Nevada Wolfpack, the athletic power forward says he is thinking of the 59 people dead and more than 500 injured in the gunfire in Las Vegas earlier this week when 64-year-old gunman Stephen Paddock went on a rampage at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.
“It is sad to see,” Evans Jr said yesterday before training at the Fish Tank.
“I wish all the best for all the families that have been impacted by that.
“I hope everything gets better for everyone that is there.
“I did not have any family or friends involved.”
The 27-year-old, who most recently played with the Sandringham Sabres in the SEABL, landed on Sunday in Cairns and has trained with his new teammates all week ahead of the season opener.
The journeyman has played professionally in Poland and Greece after graduating from Nevada in 2014 and averaged 21.1 points per game in the semi-professional SEABL over the summer.
“There’s no secret to how I play. I just need to get out there on Friday, show effort and do what I do best,” Evans Jr said.
The long forward comes to the NBL club with some experience at the level in Australia after training with Melbourne United recently, suiting up for them in their preseason games against visiting college teams, where he had 12 points against Wisconsin and a double-double of 11 points and 10 boards against Texas.
“There are a lot of advantages to bringing him in. He’s practised with an NBL team already, played with other NBL athletes, and has spent time in Australia,” Snakes coach Aaron Fearne said.
“We’ll only have a couple of practice sessions before the season starts, but he’s already had a hit out and looked fantastic. He’s a good shooter, he’ll get to the ring and he’ll definitely bring some things that will help us out. Melbourne United have a similar offensive system to us, so it should be an easy transition.”
The 203cm forward replaces Carrera, who is not expected to return for 4-6 weeks following knee surgery. The Venezuelan watched the beginning of training yesterday as the Snakes look to integrate his replacement straight away.
Fearne was asked if Evans Jr could become a permanent Snake if he plays well over the next month and offered this response.
“I have not even thought about that,” Fearne said.
“Right now we are just trying to win on Friday night.
“We will see how things pan out and see how he plays and how we play as a team.
“We will make those decisions down the track.”
THERE’S NO SECRET TO HOW I PLAY. I JUST NEED TO GET OUT THERE ON FRIDAY, SHOW EFFORT AND DO WHAT I DO BEST. JERRY EVANS JR