By Jason Avery
News-Times Staff
Heading into his senior year, Nate Garrett-Evans was primarily known for his marksmanship from the 3-point line.
But with the graduation of All-State selection Bryce Coke, Garrett-Evans was going to have develop a more versatile arsenal.
The work the senior put in has paid off handsomely.
After playing a key role in leading the Trojans to a 29-4 record and a berth in the 2A state semifinals, Garrett-Evans will be continuing his college career.
On Wednesday, Garrett-Evans signed with Crowley’s Ridge.
“Going into my senior season, I knew I could shoot the ball, but that was really about it,” Garrett-Evans said. “So I was kind of curious to see how I would play without our All-State point guard, who graduated. I knew I was going to have to develop into the role handling the ball more, so I didn’t know if I was going to play really good this year just not being a spot-up shooter.
“But as the season went on, I got comfortable with the ball, and I didn’t care if I had it and drove it or if I was shooting. I realized that college ball was still an option for me and I could do it, so my confidence level really skyrocketed. It helped me throughout the year.”
Garrett-Evans, who averaged 17 points per game for the Trojans this year, said he started to think about the possibility of playing collegiately around the halfway point of the season.
“I started talking to my parents about really considering college ball,” Garrett-Evans said. “I just continued to get better through my sophomore, junior and senior year, and I thought it was something I could really do, so me and my parents sat down and we talked to my coach.
“We started emailing some coaches and sending them highlights. I just continued to play the rest of the year, and Crowley’s Ridge messaged me. I went and visited right after our season ended and one time during our season. I really liked what was going on there. They said they needed a threat from the 3-point line, and it just kind of fell into place.”
Garrett-Evans said the school reminded him of Parkers Chapel.
“First of all, when I pulled in, I was like, ‘Is this it?’” Garrett-Evans said. “When I realized how community-based it felt, I go to PC, so it’s really small and you know everybody, and I got that same home vibe from Crowley’s Ridge. I felt like that was something that was going to make me really comfortable. The coaches were great. The players were great. Everybody just seemed like family up there, so I really bought into the system.”
After his junior season, Garrett-Evans hit the AAU circuit, and it was there where he began to work on other facets of his game.
“I played AAU after my junior season ended,” Garrett-Evans said. “Every team you play, they’re all talented. They all can defend. They all can shoot. It really makes you push yourself or else you’re not going to standout.
“Of course, I still base it around my shot, but I got to where I was comfortable with pump-faking and jab-stepping and people having to play up on me because of my shot. As I kept working on driving in, pump fakes, jab steps and dribble pull-ups, it all just really came together.”
Coming off of a 21-7 season in 2016-17, the Trojans entered the 2017-18 season with high expectations.
They delivered, winning 18 straight before Earle ended their run in the state semifinals.
“We had all been playing together since the seventh grade,” Garrett-Evans said. “We knew growing up we would be something special our senior year, but we didn’t think it would be anything like this. Josh Osborn, our 6-9 kid, moved in the year before, and that just really put us together. It was awesome.
“Going into the season, I figured we would still be solid, but I didn’t think we would be as dominant we were honestly. We just played together.
“We were like a family out there on the court. When teams would watch us, they could just tell that we had been playing together.
“We were all just really passionate and worked together. We had a little bit of everything, and it just really blended together. We did what a lot of people thought we would not do honestly.”
Garrett-Evans, who said he wants to get into the coaching profession after finishing college, is now getting ready for his inaugural season at Crowley’s Ridge, and he indicated that should get the opportunity to play as a freshman.
“The coach told me I would not be redshirting, and I would immediately be making an impact just because they don’t really have a guy that specifies from long range,” Garrett-Evans said.
“When I sent my emails and tapes and he saw I was a threat from there, he said that I can get a little bit stronger during the summer and immediately make an impact for the team just spotting up and running off screens and stuff like that, so I really feel like I’ll make a contribution in my first year.”