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Duke Freshman Reacts to Labaron Philon's NBA Draft Decision

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated Apr 15, 2025 6:14 PM ET

From Duke freshman Cooper Flagg taking over college hoops to the heroics of Florida's Walter Clayton Jr. during March Madness, the 2024-25 NCAA men's basketball season was filled with electrifying moments.

This year, however, two other freshmen have made headlines with their skyrocketing potential—Duke's Isaiah Evans and Alabama's Labaron Philon.

A native of Mobile, Alabama, and a former top-30 national recruit, Philon has swiftly become a cornerstone for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

In his freshman campaign, he played in 37 games, putting up 10.6 points, 3.8 assists and 1.4 steals per game, coupled with an elite 45.2% field goal rate.

What's caught attention lately, though, is Duke's Isaiah Evans delivering a warm nod to his Alabama counterpart's decision to take the next leap to the professional level.

Evans posted a screenshot of Philon’s announcement to enter the 2025 NBA Draft on his Instagram Story, accompanied by a heart emoji.

Halfway across the country, Isaiah Evans, a 6-foot-6 guard from Huntersville, North Carolina, has been turning heads ever since his highly touted recruitment.

The five-star recruit and former two-time North Carolina Mr. Basketball has already begun carving out a name for himself at Duke.

Coming off a season where he played 36 games, averaging 13.7 minutes per outing, Evans tallied 6.8 points per game while hitting over 43% from the field and 41% from beyond the arc.

His efficient scoring and clutch shooting, including hitting six of eight threes in an 84-78 win over Auburn on December 4, 2024, have convinced many that his offensive game will only continue to flourish.

Both Isaiah Evans and Labaron Philon have laid the foundation for what promises to be illustrious careers in basketball.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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