The American point guard, who starred this season with the highest efficiency index rate in the Israeli League, joins on a one-year contract with two extension options. Coach Sfairopoulos: “He has the skills and the right mentality”
The young guard (24, 1.91 m) was selected to the second team of the season in the Israeli Premier League, was a four times member in the team of the week and was selected as the ninth round MVP in the league. Evans was the main factor in Hapoel Haifa’s run to the playoffs in its debut season in the league and presented the highest efficiency index rate this season in the entire league (25.8 per game).
Keenan Evans, who can play in both guard positions and is considered a great and energetic passer, averaged 18.5 points (38.9% from three), 6.4 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 steals in 32.3 minutes per game in the regular season. He was also on fire in games against Maccabi with 17 points and 10 assists in the first meeting, 20 points in the second and 21 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals and no less than 11 assists in the third.
“I want to welcome Keenan Evans to the Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv family”, Coach Giannis Sfairopoulos told maccabi.co.il. “He is a player that we believe that will help the team to fight for the goals. He has the skills and the right mentality to be part of our organisation”.
“I’m really excited and honored to be playing for one of the most decorative sports clubs in the world”, related Keenan Evans. “Also playing in the euroleague this year is a big step in my career so I’m ready to show up and help the team in anyway possible by doing my part. Lastly, the fans… I watched the finals against gilboa-Galil and it looked like so much fun playing in front of them so I can’t wait to make them proud”.
In the playoff quarterfinal series against Hapoel Eilat, Evans provided 25 points and 8 rebounds in the away game, compared to 19 points, 6 assists and 9 fouls drawn at Romema. He recorded his points game high last season against the Southerners (27) and against Hapoel Jerusalem accumulated no less than 40 index points. At the end of the season he was ranked first in the efficiency index, second in steals, fifth in assists and seventh in the league in points per game.
Keenan Evans grew up in Texas and was accepted into the Texas Tech team by coach Tabby Smith. In his fourth and final season in college he led the team to the top ten in the rankings, but was not drafted to the NBA and joined Golden State in the summer league. He later also briefly signed with the Detroit Pistons and in January 2019 joined Delaware in the G-League. In the summer of that year he joined Igokea of the Adriatic League and a year ago was signed by Hapoel Haifa.
Keenan comes from an athletic background. His father Kenny Evans was a high jumper on the United States Olympic team and finished 13th at the 2000 Games. He was also a two-time high school college champion.
