The NBA revealed on Tuesday that 106 players have filed as early entry candidates for the 2025 NBA Draft, set to take place June 25-26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Among them is Duke freshman guard Isaiah Evans — a name that might surprise fans, considering he recently announced he’ll return for a second season in Durham.
Evans appears to be using the early entry window to evaluate his draft stock without fully committing to the professional route. NCAA rules allow players to go through pre-draft workouts and still retain eligibility, so long as they withdraw from the draft by 11:59 p.m. ET on May 28.
A sharp-shooting weapon off the bench, Evans averaged 6.8 points in 13.8 minutes per game and led the Blue Devils with a 41.6% mark from three-point range in his freshman season. His ability to stretch the floor and score efficiently has drawn interest from scouts looking ahead.
While Evans is likely to return, four other Duke players seem set on heading to the NBA: freshman phenoms Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and Khaman Maluach, along with junior guard Tyrese Proctor.
