Do You Wish to Continue Playing Devins Story or Colts Story

Within the first five minutes of Evans' non-region game against Greenbrier last week, Devin Story hit three of his first four shots — all 3s.

He scored each bucket off-ball, his new role with his new team this season.

Last season, Story's independent boys' basketball Player of the Year title was earned with his on-ball skills as a sophomore point guard for Westminster. Now, he's with a new team — with old ties — and thriving as the Knights are out to a 11-1 start to the season following their 78-63 region win over Alcovy Tuesday.

"When (Story) steps on the floor, he's a very confident player," Evans coach Kevin Kenny said. "And the (team sense's) that and they're not afraid of giving him the ball because they know he's capable of scoring. And that's the thing: Every time he shoots the ball he thinks it's going in, and that's what shooters do."

Kenny says he isn't surprised with how well or how quickly the sharpshooting wing blended into the experienced Evans roster.

"He came in and brought some extra scoring for us," Kenny said. "We had an experienced team come back, we got kids that can score, but he just added another offensive weapon to us and he's capable of getting double-figures every night. … It was a huge thing to get him in here."

Rashad King, Josh Mincey and Brasen James all returned from last year's region title squad. There is no shortage of star power for Evans. But another scorer to replace Christian Chambers is exactly what the Knights needed.

Story has the ability to score in multiple ways. Even when he missed his first shot against Greenbrier, he rattled of three-straight 3s to get his team a double-digit lead. All 15 of his points against Alcovy were 3s.

But he doesn't just bring an offensive mentality.

"So he's come in and just not offensively, but how hard he plays by his defense, it's upped the bar," Kenny said. "He's fit in right away with everybody because of the style that we play. He's helped raised the bar in what we're trying to accomplish."

Kenny said Story's addition was seamless. Partly because he grew up in Evans and previously played alongside many of his teammates. Kenny said another helping factor is Evans is an unselfish team.

It's hard to focus defensively on only one scoring option with James, Mincey and King also on the court. Mincey is the primary ball-handler, creating his own shots and finding other playmakers. King is a wing player that can stretch or play inside. James is equally as dangerous. So Story's addition gives Evans another option in a crowded offense.

"Our whole starting five can score double figures, there's no doubt about that," Kenny said. "Our thing is get it to the hot guy, dribble-penetrate, kick it to the shooters. Our offense that we run is get it to our best shooters and we do that through dribble-penetration and kick outs."

Coming back to Evans was a homecoming for Story. He went to Evans games when he was younger to watch his older brother. Before he went to Westminster, Kenny saw the potential in Story.

Now he gets to coach him.

"It feels good, being back with everybody, being back with old friends. Just like old times," Story said.

And joining his friends on the court has not only been easy, but fun; at least early on. The Knights have just one loss — 69-58 to Class 7A McEachern.

The best way to replace one player of the year (Chambers) is get another (Story). And through 12 games, the Knights are well on their way to defending their region title.

With a star-studded, starting lineup, Story is ready to not only reclaim a region title with his new squad, but make a run in the state playoffs.

"We keep playing like we are, we should go far," Story said. "Hopefully win (the) region and go as far as we can go in (the) state."

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Source: https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/sports/high-school/basketball/2021/01/13/devin-story-westminster-evans-basketball/6552708002/

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