Valparaiso Transfer Bakari Evelyn Commits To Iowa Hawkeyes

Earlier this week, the Iowa Hawkeyes got some exciting news as fans learned that Valparaiso transfer Bakari Evelyn would be joining the program. He joins the Hawkeyes as a graduate transfer after two relatively productive seasons with the Crusaders.

Evelyn originally comes out of Detroit, Michigan and has had a somewhat complicated history on the college basketball season. He originally spent a year at Nebraska before transferring to Valapariso for the last two seasons. Evelyn played in over 70 percent of the team’s minutes the last two seasons and averaged 10.5 points per game.

What’s interesting about Evelyn’s game is its diversity. He’s a respectable shooter from three, but has also shown himself as a capable defender and facilitator on offense. There’s nothing that blows you away from his statistical profile, but he should be a nice piece in the lineup, especially in the backcourt with Jordan Bohannon out for the Hawkeyes.

As a graduate transfer, he will be immediately eligible to play this season. It’s unlikely that he’ll play at an All-Big Ten level given his past production at Valparaiso, but he does project to be a solid backup or decent starter in the Big Ten. And with the team’s injury concerns, that’s desperately needed good news.

No one can be sure how Evelyn will progress once he arrives at Iowa, but Hawkeye fans should be excited about adding another talented piece to the roster.