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Get to Know Men's Basketball's Kyan Evans
6/15/2026 8:41:00 AM | Men's Basketball
A Kansas City product, Kyan Evans joins the Golden Gopher men's basketball program for his senior year. A 6-foot, 2-inch guard, Evans reconnects with Medved after playing two seasons together at Colorado State from 2023-25, where he scored 441 points, 79 three-pointers in 72 games. As a CSU sophomore, Evans was an honorable mention All-Mountain West when he averaged 10.6 points and 3.1 assists, while scoring 70 three-pointers. As a sophomore, he led the team in threes and three-point percentage at 44.6 percent. He scored double figures 23 times, including 23 points in the NCAA first round win over Memphis. His sophomore numbers improved on his freshman-year averages of 1.7 points and 0.8 assists in 8.1 minutes per game. Following his CSU tenure, Evans spent his junior year at North Carolina, where he played in all 33 games and started in 17. He averaged 4.0 points and 17.7 minutes as a Tar Heel. The 2023 Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year, Evans was a three-time all-state with Staley High School. Get to know more about Evans in this question/answer session.
I know you had some options once entering the transfer portal. What eventually led to your decision on coming to Minnesota?
The prior connection I had to the coaching staff and having Crock (Jaylen Crocker-Johnson) here as well as knowing some of the guys already, I thought it would be the easiest transition for me.
As you've mentioned, you had that connection with Niko Medved's staff in the past. What works for you in his system and how have you been able to learn from him?
In everything we do, it's just a learning experience. They are coaching every second of the day: before practice, in between practice and at the end of the day. Their goal is always getting better and they are very process based. Knowing what my end goal is to be great here, but also be great in the future. They have those same goals and expectations for me.
You're back with your old roommate Jaylen Crocker-Johnson. Talk about having him as a teammate again and what he's been able to tell you playing at Minnesota?
I'm obviously excited to be able to play with him again. We had a great year together the one year we were at Colorado State. He's really showing me the ropes around here. It's the same way I did for him at CSU. Roles are reversed for us. It's a good experience and I'm already having fun with it.
Time to get to know you a little more. What sports did you play growing up and when did you start to solely focus on basketball?
Besides basketball, I also played baseball and football. I didn't really like baseball once you got into kid pitch, it almost hit me and that's when I stopped playing baseball. I played football until sixth grade. I had a concussion and my mom wasn't sure if I should still play and I was like, I'm good just sticking with basketball.
What can you tell us about your game and what you can bring to the Gophers?
I hope to be able to bring a lot of good qualities. I can be on the ball, off the ball, shooting and can bring a lot of play making ability for my teammates as well. Being a senior now and knowing the system, I think I can bring a lot of leadership to this team.
Did I hear you had family in the area? Is it nice to have that local connection here?
It's definitely nice to have that connection here. They've been wanting me to come here for some years now. I have two sisters and their husbands and six nieces and nephews. A lot of family and it's been a good experience and I'm looking forward to it.
What's been your favorite sports memory, either playing or seeing to date?
I've had a lot of them. The win over Memphis in the NCAA Tournament is one that stands out. I won state championships in high school, Peach Jam. Even beating Kansas last year, the hometown school, is going to be with me for a while, that's for sure.
What are you most looking forward to this season?
Honestly, just be out and be with the guys and get back to playing. I'm really looking forward to that.
Favorite Food: Hibachi or some sort of crab meal.
Recommended Show or Movie Right Now: Power. Goat Show.
Favorite NBA Player or Team: Wherever LeBron is at, that's it.
Snacktime Go to: That's a tough one for me. Two years ago, it was all random stuff, like a dill pickle and hot fries. I'm a little older now, a little more mature so I'm gonna have to change my go to. That's to be determined.
If you weren't a basketball player, you'd be: I would be a streamer on the game. I'd stream and play the game.
I know you had some options once entering the transfer portal. What eventually led to your decision on coming to Minnesota?
The prior connection I had to the coaching staff and having Crock (Jaylen Crocker-Johnson) here as well as knowing some of the guys already, I thought it would be the easiest transition for me.
As you've mentioned, you had that connection with Niko Medved's staff in the past. What works for you in his system and how have you been able to learn from him?
In everything we do, it's just a learning experience. They are coaching every second of the day: before practice, in between practice and at the end of the day. Their goal is always getting better and they are very process based. Knowing what my end goal is to be great here, but also be great in the future. They have those same goals and expectations for me.
You're back with your old roommate Jaylen Crocker-Johnson. Talk about having him as a teammate again and what he's been able to tell you playing at Minnesota?
I'm obviously excited to be able to play with him again. We had a great year together the one year we were at Colorado State. He's really showing me the ropes around here. It's the same way I did for him at CSU. Roles are reversed for us. It's a good experience and I'm already having fun with it.
Time to get to know you a little more. What sports did you play growing up and when did you start to solely focus on basketball?
Besides basketball, I also played baseball and football. I didn't really like baseball once you got into kid pitch, it almost hit me and that's when I stopped playing baseball. I played football until sixth grade. I had a concussion and my mom wasn't sure if I should still play and I was like, I'm good just sticking with basketball.
What can you tell us about your game and what you can bring to the Gophers?
I hope to be able to bring a lot of good qualities. I can be on the ball, off the ball, shooting and can bring a lot of play making ability for my teammates as well. Being a senior now and knowing the system, I think I can bring a lot of leadership to this team.
Did I hear you had family in the area? Is it nice to have that local connection here?
It's definitely nice to have that connection here. They've been wanting me to come here for some years now. I have two sisters and their husbands and six nieces and nephews. A lot of family and it's been a good experience and I'm looking forward to it.
What's been your favorite sports memory, either playing or seeing to date?
I've had a lot of them. The win over Memphis in the NCAA Tournament is one that stands out. I won state championships in high school, Peach Jam. Even beating Kansas last year, the hometown school, is going to be with me for a while, that's for sure.
What are you most looking forward to this season?
Honestly, just be out and be with the guys and get back to playing. I'm really looking forward to that.
Favorite Food: Hibachi or some sort of crab meal.
Recommended Show or Movie Right Now: Power. Goat Show.
Favorite NBA Player or Team: Wherever LeBron is at, that's it.
Snacktime Go to: That's a tough one for me. Two years ago, it was all random stuff, like a dill pickle and hot fries. I'm a little older now, a little more mature so I'm gonna have to change my go to. That's to be determined.
If you weren't a basketball player, you'd be: I would be a streamer on the game. I'd stream and play the game.
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