Alexandria’s Nick Evans Joins William and Mary Basketball Team as Freshman Walk-On
By Paul Friedman
ALEXANDRIA, VA – On the night of Saturday, August 6, WEBA, Alexandria’s West End Business Association, was thrilled to celebrate the success of Nick Evans, who has been accepted into the College of William and Mary (W&M), and joined the Division I Basketball team as a walk-on. Donald and JoAnn Evans, his proud parents, were there to recognize his achievement.
The party, on the twentieth floor of the Parc Meridian off Eisenhower Avenue, included numerous friends and family. It also featured a special guest, former Alexandria School Board member Chris Lewis, who played Division I Basketball as a Harvard University student.
Nicholas Charles “Nick” Evans is a disciplined student. He received scholarship offers from the Naval Academy, Howard University, and Georgian Court University. Despite not receiving a full scholarship from W&M, thanks to a recent decision by the Supreme Court, if his grades are good enough, he will have the chance to earn education-based benefits at the start of the 2023-24 academic year.
Evans worked hard to arrive at this point in life. In the eighth grade, he began to love the game of basketball. He devoted himself to it, taking every opportunity to practice.
Evans’ basketball skills improved dramatically during his time at Gonzaga College High School. (See highlights HERE; Evans wears #22.) it certainly helped that he grew three inches, going from a 6’6” freshman to a 6’9” senior. In his last two years, he played power forward on the varsity team and helped the Eagles win the MAIT Championship a year ago. He was selected to the first team (16 and under) of the 2020 I-95 Coalition League’s District Basketball Club, which made the semifinals. As the result of an incredible year, Evans was named to the 16 and under All-League team by the DMV basketball journal “Finest Magazine.”
When asked who he wanted to emulate while in high school, he named Terrence Williams, the Gonzaga alumnus who now plays at the University of Michigan.
“He was a great student and an outstanding basketball player,” Evans elaborated. “I didn’t know him that well though because he was a junior when I was a freshman.”
Away from hoops, Evans found that he enjoyed learning about the Gilded Age and computer science. While at Gonzaga, he earned numerous awards, for both basketball and academics. Twice, as a junior and a senior, Evans won the DC State Athletic Association Certificate of Academic Achievement. He maintained a 4.389 GPA, so he earned First Honors during all four years. Additionally, he was an AP Scholar with Honor in 2021.
The talented student and athlete knows he would not have achieved as much as he has without help. He counts his parents as a critical part of his success. They have been there for him every step of the way.
Donald though had a different idea in mind for his son, hoping Nick would choose tennis over basketball. After all, Donald played collegiate tennis at Rollins College in Florida, earned ATP Doubles World Ranking in 1994, and played for the Bermuda Davis Cup National Team from 1995-2000.
Still, Nick carved his own path. He wants to major in Computer Science, calling it “a very useful skill and something I enjoy.” Both Donald and JoAnn are very excited for him. They look forward to his successes in sport, academics, and life. Nick has big ambitions as well and knows there is work ahead.
“I want to model my game as much after LeBron James as possible,” he admitted confidently with a smile.
Kevin Dauray contributed to this story.
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