Villanova Forward Kwame Evans Jr. a Valuable Veteran | Meet the Wildcats

This is one in a series of stories previewing each member of the 2026-27 Villanova Men’s Basketball roster.

Villanova fans haven’t had a chance to see Kwame Evans Jr. in action yet, as the veteran forward missed all three of the Wildcats’ preseason games with a foot injury. The 6-foot-10, 220 pound senior spent the first three years of his career at Oregon, joining the Ducks as a five-star recruit and member of the ESPN Top 100.

Evans averaged 13.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 blocks per game with the Ducks last season, a stretch-four who took 37.1 percent of his shots from three-point range. While he made 30.4 percent of them, below what one might hope from the typical wing, the spacing he’ll provide at the four will give Villanova — already loaded with both shooters and talent down low — plenty of versatility.

What Can’t He Do?

During the offseason, Philadelphia Sports Now reviewed film of Oregon’s losses to Illinois and Michigan, both of whom made the Final Four last season. Evans’ versatility stood out as he switched to defend along the perimeter and also backed down oversized athletes like Michigan’s Aday Mara, using his combination of a lower center of gravity and strong dribbling to win a variety of matchups down low. 

Four years on from that five-star rating as a recruit, Evans isn’t a superstar, but his proficiency in every aspect of the game makes him one of the most valuable players on this year’s team. His experience on a pair of NCAA Tournament teams should provide a valuable resource for the younger players on Villanova’s roster, and the fact he could spend two years on the Main Line with the NCAA’s new five-in-five model of eligibility should have Wildcats fans excited.

Evans’ foot injury has dragged on longer than initially expected — Villanova cited him as day-to-day before their Oct. 11 game against Rutgers, and head coach Kevin Willard declined to comment when asked about his availability for the team’s season opener in Rome… but assuming the injury remains a short-term deal, it shouldn’t be anything to worry about.