Evan Willis
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Scout Report
At 6-7, Evan Willis has the frame of a small forward and the ballhandling instincts of a guard who got stuck in a growth spurt. He's a freshman at Utah Prep carrying the No. 4 ranking in the entire 2028 class — not gradeschool hype, actual production against older competition. Nine D1 offers before he's played a varsity season outside of the Utah Prep bubble says plenty about where this is headed.
Background
Willis grew up in Salt Lake City and now suits up for Utah Prep, one of the more talent-dense programs in the country for his age group. He shares a frontcourt with Shalen Sheppard, the No. 14 2028 power forward, giving Utah Prep a pairing that forces opposing staffs to game-plan around two future high-major pieces at once. The Utah Prep setup means Willis is already practicing and competing in a structured, college-style environment rather than a traditional AAU circuit grind. That exposure to pro-style spacing and ball movement at this age is part of why evaluators are so far ahead on him already.
Playing Style
Willis plays with a forward's size and a wing's pace — he doesn't rush, even in transition, which lets him read the floor a beat ahead of defenders closing out. He's comfortable putting the ball on the floor from the wing, using a long first step to get downhill rather than settling for pull-ups right away. Off the catch, his shot mechanics are clean and repeatable, which matters more for his translation to NBA spacing down the road than almost anything else in his profile. Defensively, his length lets him guard multiple positions already — he can slide his feet against smaller wings and still contest shots over bigger forwards thanks to his wingspan. He's not a ball-hawk defender yet, but he's disciplined, rarely out of position, and closes out under control instead of flying at shooters. The game slows down for him in a way that's uncommon for a freshman — he processes mismatches and makes the right pass before the double-team even fully forms.
Strengths
The frame-skill combination is the headline — 6-7 with guard handle and a shot that holds up off movement. He reads ball screens well for his age, able to snake the dribble or hit the roll man depending on how the defense tags it. His length shows up in passing lanes defensively and in his ability to finish over smaller defenders at the rim without needing a running start. Coaches watching tape see a kid who already understands spacing, not just athleticism — he fills the weak-side corner correctly and relocates instead of standing still.
Areas to Watch
Adding strength is the obvious next step — he can get pushed off his spot by bigger, more physical forwards in the post or on drives, and that's going to matter more as competition levels rise. His three-point volume needs to climb; the mechanics are there, but he's still more comfortable attacking closeouts than letting it fly with range. Sharpening his first move as an initial ball-handler — rather than relying purely on length to create separation — would make him tougher to defend against longer, quicker wings.
Player Comparison
His frame and face-up skill set evoke early-career Jaylen Williams of the Thunder — a forward who can put the ball on the floor, make reads out of short-roll situations, and guard up a position without ever looking like the most explosive athlete on the floor. Willis isn't that polished yet, he's 14, but the chassis and feel are pointing in a similar direction.
Recruitment
Nine D1 offers are already in, including Cal, Missouri, UNLV, Pepperdine, Texas A&M, Power, Nebraska and USC. For a 2028 prospect, that's an aggressive early push from high-major programs who don't normally extend offers this early unless they're genuinely worried about missing out. No commitment is imminent — this far out, it's about staying in regular contact and building relationships rather than racing to a decision. Expect the offer list to keep growing through his sophomore year as more staffs get in-person looks at Utah Prep practices and games.
Projection
Willis projects as a high-major wing with a chance to be a featured scorer depending on how his frame fills out over the next three years. The shooting touch and processing speed give him a realistic shot at pro consideration if the body matures the way scouts expect. Worst-case outcome still looks like a rotational college wing who guards multiple spots and knocks down open shots — the range of outcomes here skews toward special, not just solid.
Updated Oct 1, 2026 · Analysis by PrepRadar Scouting Team
Career Journey
Crossroads School
PREP SCHOOL
Under Armour Association
AAU
Career Highlights
Evan Willis scored 21pts 13rebs 3blk in Crossroads 62-60 victory over Campbell Hall
2028 4⭐️ Evan Willis dominated with 29 points 18 rebounds 6 assists and 4 blocks in 65-45 win over Windward, ranked 20th by ESPN
Evan Willis led Crossroads with 29pts 18 rebs 6ast 4blk in 65-45 victory over Windward
Evan Willis scored 20pts 10rebs 3blk in Crossroads 80-50 victory over Viewpoint
2028 4⭐️ Evan Willis 6'8" Forward (Crossroads High) Crossroads knocks off Campbell Hall is a 62-60 defeat recording 21 points 13 rebounds and 3 blocks
@the.evan.willis dropped 20 PTS 10 REB & @shalen10sheppard dropped an 18 PT 11 REB 10 AST triple double in their 80-50 win over Viewpoint last night
Crossroads took down Campbell Hall in a 62-60 NAILBITER led by 4 ⭐️ @the.evan.willis (17 PTS 14 REB) and 5 ⭐️ @shalen10sheppard (10 PTS 11 REB)
Evan Willis special story goes from unranked to Top 20 nationally in one season of Under Armour. Named to the new ESPN Top 25 for the Class of 2028
Offers
9
Cal
Missouri
UNLV
Texas A&MOffers sourced from 247Sports and social media monitoring.