Heshimu Evans
Encyclopedia
Heshimu Kenyata Evans is an American
-born Portuguese
basketball
player, currently with SL Benfica of the Portuguese Basketball League (LPB).
Evans, a small forward
from Evander Childs High School
in The Bronx
, went to Manhattan College, where he was named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
(MAAC) rookie of the year in 1995. He followed that up with a first team All-MAAC performance as a sophomore in 1996.
Following his sophomore year, Evans transferred to the University of Kentucky
. After sitting out the 1996–97 season
as a transfer, he was a key player off the bench for the Wildcats' 1998 NCAA championship team
. He averaged 8.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. His senior year, he moved into the starting lineup, averaging 11.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
Evans was not selected in the 1999 NBA Draft
. He signed with ÉS Chalon-sur-Saône in France
, kicking off a successful international career. After a stop in Japan
, Evans made his way to Portugal
in 2001, where he would later become a naturalized citizen. In 2009, Evans joined SL Benfica, where he led the team to the LPB championship in 2010. Evans led the team with 23 points in the series-clinching game.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-born Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player, currently with SL Benfica of the Portuguese Basketball League (LPB).
Evans, a small forward
Small forward
The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall...
from Evander Childs High School
Evander Childs Educational Campus
Evander Childs Educational Campus is a cluster of public high schools located on the campus of the former Evander Childs High School in The Bronx, New York City...
in The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, went to Manhattan College, where he was named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider...
(MAAC) rookie of the year in 1995. He followed that up with a first team All-MAAC performance as a sophomore in 1996.
Following his sophomore year, Evans transferred to the University of Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball
The Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team, representing the University of Kentucky, is the winningest in the history of college basketball, both in all-time wins and all-time winning percentage. Kentucky's all-time record currently stands at 2058–647...
. After sitting out the 1996–97 season
1996–97 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team
The 1996–97 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team represented University of Kentucky coached by Rick Pitino . The team was a member of the Southeast Conference and played their home games at Rupp Arena.-NCAA basketball tournament:*East...
as a transfer, he was a key player off the bench for the Wildcats' 1998 NCAA championship team
1997–98 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team
The 1997–98 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team were coached by Tubby Smith. He was in his first season as head coach after taking over from Rick Pitino...
. He averaged 8.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. His senior year, he moved into the starting lineup, averaging 11.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
Evans was not selected in the 1999 NBA Draft
1999 NBA Draft
The 1999 NBA Draft was held on June 30, 1999 at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. It was the first draft in which four players from the same college were picked in the first round, with Elton Brand , Trajan Langdon , Corey Maggette and William Avery being selected out of Duke University...
. He signed with ÉS Chalon-sur-Saône in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, kicking off a successful international career. After a stop in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Evans made his way to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
in 2001, where he would later become a naturalized citizen. In 2009, Evans joined SL Benfica, where he led the team to the LPB championship in 2010. Evans led the team with 23 points in the series-clinching game.