OAKLAND -- The Warriors took their initial step toward an injection of youth Thursday night, selecting Jacob Evans III of Cincinnati in the first round of the NBA draft.
Evans, an American Athletic Conference first-team selection who declared for the draft after his junior season, is considered one of the top defensive players -- of any position -- in the draft.
Yet Evans, who turned 21 this week, managed to lead the Bearcats in scoring at 13.0 points per game.
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The North Carolina native, whose mother, Theresa Chatman-Evans, played point guard at Grambling, worked out for the Warriors as recently as Wednesday at the team’s downtown facility.
“He’s a winner,” Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin said. “He shoots a high percentage. He’s an elite defender. He blocks shots. He guard point guards. He rebounds.
“He just does so many things, and he’s a coach on the floor. He’s such a smart player.”