Two months makes all difference for Evans Jr

AT THE start of October Jerry Evans Jr was an unemployed basketballer searching for his next contract after finishing up with Sandringham in the SEABL.

Just under three months later the athletic swing man has played his way into a fulltime NBL contract for the remainder of the season on the back of his improving play, as well as the faltering of Michael Carrera.

The 27-year-old spoke to local media before the Taipans training on Tuesday but was surprisingly coy on what his plans were once Carrera returned from injury, as it was expected Carrera was only a few weeks away from a comeback.

Evans Jr was coy because he had an inkling his future was about to become a Taipan for the rest of the 2017-18 season, with the Venezuelan Volcano nowhere to be seen at training.

Evans Jr registered a new NBL career-high and led all scorers with 18 points in the loss to Brisbane on Thursday night and says he is learning from Taipan Nate Jawai.

“Nate talks to me all the time, I just pick his brains because he has been in the NBA and played at high level in Eu- rope,” Evans Jr said. “He certainly knows what he is talking about. “He is a guy I go to for advice.”

Taipans coach Aaron Fearne said it has been a frustrating period for the team and Carrera, dealing with his ankle injury that was not improving.

“He has been through two injuries and it has been tough on him and tough on the team,” Fearne said.

“He needs to get on top of his injury, it is still a way away until he could get back on the court at 100 per cent.

“It has been tough for him but I am sure he will keep moving forward and get healthy.”