Samuels Outduels Evans

Samardo Samuels got the better of his buddy Tyreke Evans Friday night in the PrimeTime Shootout.

The 6-9 Louisville-bound Samuels had a double-double of 27 points and 17 rebounds to lead St. Benedict's of Newark to a 77-70 victory over American (Pa.) Christian at Villanova.

The 6-5 Evans paced American Christian, No. 4 in the National Prep Poll, with 33 points but shot 14-of-34 from the field and 1-of-12 from beyond the 3-point arc.

Junior guard Tamir Jackson of Paterson added 18 points and junior center Greg Echenique had 15 points and three rebounds for St. Benedict's, No. 2 in the ZAGSBLOG Top 10.

The 6-1 Jackson has really helped his stock this year with a string of strong performances against big-time teams, including a game-high 29 points in a win over then-No. 1 Oak Hill on ESPN.

The 6-9 Echenique is considering Duke, Rutgers, Penn, Pitt, Miami and Maryland, and was at the Seton Hall-Rutgers game won by the Pirates last Wednesday night.

Evans is down to Louisville, Memphis, Villanova, Texas and UConn and is expected to decide sometime after visiting Memphis Feb. 23 for the Tennessee game.

"He'll visit Memphis in February and he'll make his decision in April," American Christian coach Tony Bergeron said a week ago in Newark when his team beat the St. Benedict's Prep team comprised mainly of fifth-year players.

Both Samuels and Evans will also visit Louisville Feb. 16 for games in the Neutral Game Showcase.

For more on the Memphis situation and an inside look into Evans' life, we point you to this well written and researched piece by my esteemed colleague Kevin Armstrong of SI.com.

Still, there are the constant whispers that after Evans visits Memphis on Feb. 23 for the Tigers' showdown against Tennessee, he will commit to Memphis because of his family's friendship with influential facilitator William "Worldwide Wes" Wesley.

Wesley, who speaks in "we" and "us" when discussing Memphis, looks the part of a successful businessman and tells those he advises, "I would be doing you a disservice if I did not share this information with you." A mortgage broker by trade, he has counseled Memphis coach John Calipari on creating a sphere of influence in China, helped guide Camden, N.J., native Dajuan Wagner to Memphis and has advised Derrick Rose and his brothers along the way. "Wes is the guy who is there for the kids when they don't make it to the NBA," said one major Division I coach. "I have no problem with him in the picture."

"The family has known Wes for years before we knew Tyreke would be what he is today," James Evans said. "Blogs and papers love to associate his name with us. At the end of the day, Tyreke's commitment will not be about his brothers or Wes. It will be his decision."

Onlookers still buzz, though, whenever there is a sighting of Wesley with an Evans. There was Wesley, dressed to the nines with his arm around Eric Evans, outside the Memphis locker room following the Tigers' early-season win over UConn on Nov. 16 at Madison Square Garden. Carrying a green "Participant" credential in his left hand, Wesley huddled with Eric Evans and then Calipari in the bowels of the Garden.

As one major Division I coach says, "At least when you go up against North Carolina and Duke you know what you are up against. With Memphis and Wes, that's a wild card."

Comments

[shuNick]

Any chance for Evans to land at Seton Hall? Like 5%?

[1oldshu]

Adam-

Is anyone going to bother with verifying 'Reke's $30k+ SUV "gift from his brother" story, and the gift tax issues it would raise if it were really a gift?

[Adam Zagoria]

I think Evans will end up deciding between Memphis, Louisville and Villanova sometime after visiting Memphis Feb. 23. As for the car, who knows? The family is certainly not obligated to disclose personal financial information about their cars and taxes.

[Dre]

1oldshu,

If there is anything duplicitous going on, the NCAA will realistically do nothing about it. Just try to enjoy the on-court/field play of amateur athletics.