Evans is all grown up

By Joe Mason
Times Sports Editor

When Sean Evans entered high school, he was a freshman of typical size.
Evans, a junior at Northeast High School, entered ninth grade as an accomplished football and basketball player.
He could run and jump, he was strong, and he had all the attributes of a great athlete.
But at the time, he was just a 5-foot-10 athlete.
Now, three years later, Evans still has all the coordination, but he also has grown 8 inches and added plenty of muscle.
"I guess I stayed the same freshman year, maybe grew an inch, but after my sophomore year I got a lot bigger," said Evans, who now stands 6-feet-6. "I had size fourteen shoes, so I guess I knew I was going to grow, but now that I’m taller, I can do a lot more things."
During the fall, Evans was a standout tight end on the Vikings’ football team.
Primarily a blocker, Evans led Northeast in receiving, catching 13 balls for nearly 200 yards and a pair of touchdowns in helping the Vikings to an 11-2 record and a trip to the Public League championship game, which Northeast lost to Frankford.
But now that the months have grown a little colder and the sun sets a little earlier, Evans is more passionate about his career on the hardwood.
Now in his first year as full-time member of the varsity basketball squad, Evans is a starter for head coach Else Cohen. The only question is, what position does he play?
"I don’t even know the answer," Evans said with a laugh. "I love playing the wing. I like getting the ball out on the wing and driving for a lay-up.
"I played the wing my whole life because I was too short to play underneath. Now, I do a little bit of everything," he continued. "When they need someone to go underneath and battle, I’ll do it. But I’d really rather play outside and then come in when they need me."
So far, Evans has played his inside-outside game to perfection. In three Public League games thus far, all Viking wins, Evans has been a force.
He’s averaging close to 16 points per game and has been one of the top rebounders on the team. And what makes his rise to the top of the Public League such a nice surprise for Northeast is that he still has room for improvement.
"Right now, Sean is getting by on his athletic ability," said Cohen, who returned to the team this season after taking a year off to concentrate on her duties as athletic director. "He’s very raw, but he’s very coachable and he’s working."
While Evans isn’t crazy about playing in the paint — something Cohen insists from her big guy — he’s happy to have her as the coach.
"It’s nice, she’s giving me a chance," Evans said. "She helps me out and she’s a good coach. I’m trying to do what she asks."
He’s also trying to help the Vikings get better in the standings.
Last year, Evans got called up late in the season. He spent the bulk of his sophomore year playing on the junior varsity squad.
He scored just six points on the year, all in non-league affairs, and his team went 5-8 in the Public League B Division.
This year, Evans is hoping for a repeat of football season, not last year’s basketball campaign. And right now, he knows that the team to beat is right in his back yard.
Evans was born and raised in Frankford.
His brother, Darryl, attended Frankford High School.
And every day, Evans walks through his neighborhood and sees many friends — who are also the opponent.
"There are a lot of guys who play for Frankford, and they’ve been really good," Evans said. "They beat us (in the football championship) and they made it to the championship in basketball last year.
"We talk a lot, they always say they’re better and I say I’m better," he continued. "But it’s real good-natured. They’re my friends."
Even though Frankford has been the more successful team thus far, Evans is glad he chose Northeast. He’s also hoping he can return the favor and swing bragging rights back to Cottman and Algon.
"I like being different, and I’ve made a lot of really good friends at Northeast," Evans said. "And I’m playing against my friends. When we beat Frankford, it’s nice, because I know the guys and I can tell them about it. And when they beat me, they make sure they tell me about it.
"Right now, they’re the ones talking," he continued. "They always say how they’re going to take it to me, but it’s cool. It’s not serious, it’s all good. And I’m hoping we can get them this season."
He knows it’s going to be hard. Just the same, Evans will have plenty of opportunities to drive to the hole and unleash a flashy dunk.
And there will be chances to take that pretty jump shot.
But he’ll also have to box out to grab those rebounds, post up the smaller forwards and set those picks.
Basketball isn’t always glorious, and he knows that sometimes he’ll have to do what’s best for the team.
"Yeah, that don’t bother me," he said. "I said I like playing the wing, but I’ll do whatever. I just want to win a championship, and I am one of the tallest guys on the team. I know I’ll have to go out and do the other stuff.
"Coach (Mel Hinton) always tells us in football, if you want to catch the ball, you have to block," he continued. "Boxing out and doing that other stuff is just like blocking in football. It’s not the best part of the game, but it’s the part of the game that wins championships." ••
Sports editor Joe Mason can be reached at 215-354-3035 or jmason@phillynews.com