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I know, I know. What has he done? Not much. But if you go through the history of big men in the MAC, there's a strong tradition of post players taking two to three years to develop. I know, I know. We'd only probably get one big year out of them. But that year quite often turns out to be dominant. The standout post player is so hard to find (and now hard to keep) in the MAC. Because of this, I've always been in favor giving them time if they have talent that isn't translating to the court as of yet. Usually they need to get bigger, stronger, grow into their bodies, so to speak, and then their skill set may finally show. There's a true story I used to tell here on Long Island (NY) about a high school game I covered between two pretty good teams. Oyster Bay had 6-6 Ken Labanowski, the county's leading scorer; Locust Valley had 6-9 Frank Brickowski, who was still trying to find his way. Labanowski ate Brick alive. I remember when I approached Brickowski in the losing team's locker room, he had tears in his eyes. He was concerned I was gonna kill him in the paper. I assured him I didn't do that to high school kids. Labanowski makes first-team all-Long Island, then goes on to play four years as a starter, not a star, at Marshall. I don't think Brickowski even made all-county, so we were surprised when Penn State gave him a scholarship. He's a bench player at Penn State his first two seasons, then the light bulb went on, it kicked in for him. Brickowski has two pretty good seasons to finish his college career, then eventually found his way into the NBA. He plays 12 seasons, mainly with San Antonio and Milwaukee, and had three seasons scoring at least 15.0 per game, finishing with a 10.0 career scoring average. I'm not saying this will happen for Evans. What I am saying is a lot of big guys figure it out later during their college tenure and when they do, if they have skills, they're gonna make some people pay... Last Edited: 3/17/2026 1:13:16 AM by FlashGary Back to Top FishBates General User Member Since: 3/6/2026 Post Count: 43 Status: Offline     RE: Why we can't/must not give up on Ayden Evans    Posted: 3/17/2026 8:15:40 AM  Nice story. Brickowski played college ball from 1977 to 1981. This is 2026. Can we have a Bevo Francis story next? Back to Top FJC31 General User Member Since: 3/31/2022 Post Count: 2,089 Status: Offline     RE: Why we can't/must not give up on Ayden Evans    Posted: 3/17/2026 8:18:05 AM  Boals is going into a contract year coming off of a .500 and losing record. I don’t know that he can afford to stash Evans for another year without guaranteed production which seems unlikely at this point. I’ll be shocked if Evans is a Bobcat next fall. Back to Top FearLeon General User Member Since: 3/12/2005 Post Count: 5,085 Status: Offline     RE: Why we can't/must not give up on Ayden Evans    Posted: 3/17/2026 8:24:00 AM  If Jeff is more interested in feeding Evans family than his own family, then he can step down today. Full scholarships are now one-year contracts. If Jeff keeps projects like Evans on the roster for three years, he truly has no interest in being a division-one head basketball coach anymore. #BleedGreen #TrentIsGOAT #NoMissesAllowed #NoOtherTeamInAmericaFlexesLikeOhio Back to Top Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame General User Member Since: 7/30/2010 Post Count: 4,583 Status: Offline     RE: Why we can't/must not give up on Ayden Evans    Posted: 3/17/2026 9:06:30 AM  What evidence do we have that Boals is capable of developing bigs? We have to rebuild a huge portion of the production of a completely mediocre team. We need opportunities (i.e. roster spots) to improve. Evans had his opportunity with the program, and he couldn't contribute. Back to Top FishBates General User Member Since: 3/6/2026 Post Count: 43 Status: Offline     RE: Why we can't/must not give up on Ayden Evans    Posted: 3/17/2026 9:20:33 AM  He seems like a good kid and should have the opportunity to stay as a walk-on practice squad kind of guy. On the other hand, any 6-10/200 pound post player who can't bench press his weight needs to otherwise hit the road along with the so-called strength and conditioning coach if we have one. Back to Top SBH General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Post Count: 4,641 Status: Offline     RE: Why we can't/must not give up on Ayden Evans    Posted: 3/17/2026 9:25:03 AM  Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote: What evidence do we have that Boals is capable of developing bigs? We have to rebuild a huge portion of the production of a completely mediocre team. We need opportunities (i.e. roster spots) to improve. Evans had his opportunity with the program, and he couldn't contribute. Has he proven adept at developing any type of player? Back to Top FJC31 General User Member Since: 3/31/2022 Post Count: 2,089 Status: Offline     RE: Why we can't/must not give up on Ayden Evans    Posted: 3/17/2026 10:07:04 AM  SBH wrote: Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote: What evidence do we have that Boals is capable of developing bigs? We have to rebuild a huge portion of the production of a completely mediocre team. We need opportunities (i.e. roster spots) to improve. Evans had his opportunity with the program, and he couldn't contribute. Has he proven adept at developing any type of player? This is the tough reality of the program currently. The remaining roster (outside of Simmons and Kelly to an extent) is littered with unproven commodities going into their 3rd year. Back to Top FearLeon General User Member Since: 3/12/2005 Post Count: 5,085 Status: Offline     RE: Why we can't/must not give up on Ayden Evans    Posted: 3/17/2026 10:32:24 AM  FJC31 wrote: SBH wrote: Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote: What evidence do we have that Boals is capable of developing bigs? We have to rebuild a huge portion of the production of a completely mediocre team. We need opportunities (i.e. roster spots) to improve. Evans had his opportunity with the program, and he couldn't contribute. Has he proven adept at developing any type of player? This is the tough reality of the program currently. The remaining roster (outside of Simmons and Kelly to an extent) is littered with unproven commodities going into their 3rd year. +1,000,000 Will be shocked if Evans isn’t in the portal this time next week after individual/coach end of season meetings. #BleedGreen #TrentIsGOAT #NoMissesAllowed #NoOtherTeamInAmericaFlexesLikeOhio Back to Top Alan Swank General User Member Since: 12/11/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 7,366 Status: Offline     RE: Why we can't/must not give up on Ayden Evans    Posted: 3/17/2026 10:37:02 AM  FlashGary wrote: If there is going to be a divorce in this relationship, let Ayden Evans give up on being here, not us giving up on keeping him. I know, I know. What has he done? Not much. But if you go through the history of big men in the MAC, there's a strong tradition of post players taking two to three years to develop. I know, I know. We'd only probably get one big year out of them. But that year quite often turns out to be dominant. The standout post player is so hard to find (and now hard to keep) in the MAC. Because of this, I've always been in favor giving them time if they have talent that isn't translating to the court as of yet. Usually they need to get bigger, stronger, grow into their bodies, so to speak, and then their skill set may finally show. There's a true story I used to tell here on Long Island (NY) about a high school game I covered between two pretty good teams. Oyster Bay had 6-6 Ken Labanowski, the county's leading scorer; Locust Valley had 6-9 Frank Brickowski, who was still trying to find his way. Labanowski ate Brick alive. I remember when I approached Brickowski in the losing team's locker room, he had tears in his eyes. He was concerned I was gonna kill him in the paper. I assured him I didn't do that to high school kids. Labanowski makes first-team all-Long Island, then goes on to play four years as a starter, not a star, at Marshall. I don't think Brickowski even made all-county, so we were surprised when Penn State gave him a scholarship. He's a bench player at Penn State his first two seasons, then the light bulb went on, it kicked in for him. Brickowski has two pretty good seasons to finish his college career, then eventually found his way into the NBA. He plays 12 seasons, mainly with San Antonio and Milwaukee, and had three seasons scoring at least 15.0 per game, finishing with a 10.0 career scoring average. I'm not saying this will happen for Evans. What I am saying is a lot of big guys figure it out later during their college tenure and when they do, if they have skills, they're gonna make some people pay... My question is why is a reporter in a high school losing teams locker room in the first place? Back to Top GoCats105 General User Member Since: 1/31/2006 Location: Seattle, WA Post Count: 7,778 Status: Offline     RE: Why we can't/must not give up on Ayden Evans    Posted: 3/17/2026 10:41:12 AM  Evans has already been passed by Kuany in terms of development, and was essentially 5th on this year's depth chart of big men at the 4/5 spots. In this day and age, your program can't afford to sit around and wait for the light bulb to turn on for a player. Back to Top SBH General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Post Count: 4,641 Status: Offline     RE: Why we can't/must not give up on Ayden Evans    Posted: 3/17/2026 11:05:06 AM  If we're pointing to Kir Kuany as a player development success story, fire all the coaches now. As for Ayden Evans, pull his scholly. From what I've heard, he'd probably play for free just to enjoy continued nightly access to Court Street. Last Edited: 3/17/2026 11:06:47 AM by SBH Back to Top Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame General User Member Since: 7/30/2010 Post Count: 4,583 Status: Offline     RE: Why we can't/must not give up on Ayden Evans    Posted: 3/17/2026 12:22:09 PM  FlashGary wrote: if they have skills Unfortunately, Evans isn't skilled. His hands are bad, his shooting's bad, and he can't rebound his position. Back to Top bobcatsquared General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Post Count: 5,825 Status: Offline     RE: Why we can't/must not give up on Ayden Evans    Posted: 3/17/2026 12:56:47 PM  Ohio students don't call Ayden Evans the "Court St. Demon" for nothing. Back to Top OhioCatFan General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 15,583 Status: Offline     RE: Why we can't/must not give up on Ayden Evans    Posted: 3/17/2026 1:43:38 PM  bobcatsquared wrote: Ohio students don't call Ayden Evans the "Court St. Demon" for nothing. Perhaps that's why he's developing more off-the-court skills than basketball skills. Priorities! The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA "It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right." Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org Back to Top M.D.W.S.T General User Member Since: 12/23/2021 Post Count: 3,579 Status: Offline     RE: Why we can't/must not give up on Ayden Evans    Posted: 3/17/2026 1:53:56 PM  I know what you’re all thinking… and no, this is not my burner account. Back to Top FlashGary General User Member Since: 6/18/2013 Location: Long Island, NY Post Count: 390 Status: Offline     RE: Why we can't/must not give up on Ayden Evans    Posted: 3/17/2026 3:56:04 PM  Alan Swank wrote: FlashGary wrote: If there is going to be a divorce in this relationship, let Ayden Evans give up on being here, not us giving up on keeping him. I know, I know. What has he done? Not much. But if you go through the history of big men in the MAC, there's a strong tradition of post players taking two to three years to develop. I know, I know. We'd only probably get one big year out of them. But that year quite often turns out to be dominant. The standout post player is so hard to find (and now hard to keep) in the MAC. Because of this, I've always been in favor giving them time if they have talent that isn't translating to the court as of yet. Usually they need to get bigger, stronger, grow into their bodies, so to speak, and then their skill set may finally show. There's a true story I used to tell here on Long Island (NY) about a high school game I covered between two pretty good teams. Oyster Bay had 6-6 Ken Labanowski, the county's leading scorer; Locust Valley had 6-9 Frank Brickowski, who was still trying to find his way. Labanowski ate Brick alive. I remember when I approached Brickowski in the losing team's locker room, he had tears in his eyes. He was concerned I was gonna kill him in the paper. I assured him I didn't do that to high school kids. Labanowski makes first-team all-Long Island, then goes on to play four years as a starter, not a star, at Marshall. I don't think Brickowski even made all-county, so we were surprised when Penn State gave him a scholarship. He's a bench player at Penn State his first two seasons, then the light bulb went on, it kicked in for him. Brickowski has two pretty good seasons to finish his college career, then eventually found his way into the NBA. He plays 12 seasons, mainly with San Antonio and Milwaukee, and had three seasons scoring at least 15.0 per game, finishing with a 10.0 career scoring average. I'm not saying this will happen for Evans. What I am saying is a lot of big guys figure it out later during their college tenure and when they do, if they have skills, they're gonna make some people pay... My question is why is a reporter in a high school losing teams locker room in the first place? Good question, Alan. I've always gotten the point of view from both the winning and losing team from high school to the pros (In hoops, I was blessed to have covered the Lakers' run with Magic, Celtics with Bird, Rockets with Olajuwon, Pistons with Isiah, Bulls with MJ; the NCAA title game in Denver when Larry Johnson-led UNLV ran Duke out of Nichols Arena by halftime). And it all started as a Postie back in 1973-75!!! Back to Top FlashGary General User Member Since: 6/18/2013 Location: Long Island, NY Post Count: 390 Status: Offline     RE: Why we can't/must not give up on Ayden Evans    Posted: 3/17/2026 3:56:48 PM  Good question, Alan. I've always gotten the point of view from both the winning and losing team from high school to the pros (In hoops, I was blessed to have covered the Lakers' run with Magic, Celtics with Bird, Rockets with Olajuwon, Pistons with Isiah, Bulls with MJ; the NCAA title game in Denver when Larry Johnson-led UNLV ran Duke out of Nichols Arena by halftime). And it all started as a Postie back in 1973-75!!! Back to Top 71 BOBCAT General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Post Count: 1,953 Status: Offline     RE: Why we can't/must not give up on Ayden Evans    Posted: 3/17/2026 4:30:51 PM  AE is a bust, plain and simple. He hasn't shown us any upside. Most of the time he seems lost. He didn't even get PT when we played some cream puffs. Cut bait and move on. GO BOBCATS Back to Top shabamon General User Member Since: 11/17/2006 Location: Cincinnati Post Count: 7,263 Status: Offline     RE: Why we can't/must not give up on Ayden Evans    Posted: 3/17/2026 5:22:21 PM  I'm sympathetic to the argument that if you're 6'10" and you come to the MAC as a freshman, you probably have some development to do. I said regarding Ben Nicol that if you've been healty, you need to be in the rotation by year two, but I guess I have a curve for big men. If there's a vision and a plan that all parties believe in to get Ayden to at least a Jalen Breath level impact, then don't throw him in the heap just yet. But did he gain any strength in the offseason? He's still a string bean. I think he would give some kind of production in the game he wants to play if he could get to 225 pounds, but he looks like he's still 205. 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