Q&A: Kyle Evans Breaks Down His Journey and Decision to Choose NC State

NC State landed one of the most impactful defensive players in the country last week in UC Irvine transfer Kyle Evans…the nation’s top shot blocker.

But behind the blocks, the breakout season, and the buzz… there’s a story.

A story of setbacks, belief, growth, and ultimately finding the right fit.

I had a chance to catch up with Evans to talk through his journey and what led him to choose NC State.

The Conversation

Pack Pride: You battled injuries your first two seasons at Colorado St. How difficult was that for you to get through? How do you think persevering through it has made you the player you are today?

Kyle Evans: Yeah, battling those injuries was difficult for me. I started getting traction and carving out a role for myself my freshman year. Then I got injured and it took me out for the season. Then coming back from that I never felt like myself and I was in a rough spot. Fighting back from that and making the decision to go to UCI was one of the best decisions I could have made.

Pack Pride: You had a big jump from year 1 at UC Irvine to year 2. What do you attribute that to?

Kyle Evans: I think the biggest piece that helped me in my growth was the coaching staff at UCI. Their belief in me was something I really needed, and a type of belief that I hadn’t felt in a really long time. They had all the confidence in me to go out and impact winning and that helped my confidence levels exponentially.

Pack Pride: You led the nation in blocks this year. How special is that accolade for you? What do you think makes you such an effective shot blocker?

Kyle Evans: I think that is a really cool thing to say I did. It’s something I’ll have forever, and I’ll be able to tell my grandkids about it. I’m more proud of the fact that the number of blocks reflects how many times I had my teammates backs. That was the biggest thing I took pride in. Their belief in me gave me a ton of confidence to go out and make the plays.

Pack Pride: NC State is the only school you visited after entering the Portal. Describe the process of NC State reaching out, you visiting, and making the decision to commit. Did you have a previous connection with any of the staff?

Kyle Evans: The process was kind of quick, to be honest. My agent had spoken to Coach Gainey, and that same night we hopped on a zoom and I was able to meet the whole staff. That was big for me, and that showed me the sense of community that Coach Gainey wants to create in the program. Making the decision was the easiest part of the portal process for me, to be honest. Right as I got on campus and was able to meet the coaching staff in person, I could tell that it was something I wanted to be apart of.

Pack Pride: What was it about NC State that led you to decide to run with the Pack?

Kyle Evans: The biggest thing for me going into the portal was finding a place that would help me develop. Develop things that I need to work on, as well as continue to grow some of the things I do well already. Coach Gainey’s vision lined up perfectly with mine, and what he wants to create in the program is something I wanted to be apart of.

Pack Pride: How would you describe yourself as a player?

Kyle Evans: The biggest area I take pride in is being consistent. That is something I have had to work on every year, and it is something that I think is really important. Being a guy that can show up every day and bring the same energy, and being someone that in reliable is something I think is really important. I’ve been blessed to have played with some incredible players throughout my college career, and I’ve been able to take a little bit from everybody whether it’s the way they approach pre-practice, post-practice, off days, recovery, film. I think being a sponge and just soaking in as much information as possible was the biggest part in my develop up to this point.

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There’s a theme woven through every answer: belief.

Belief from coaches. Belief in teammates. And now, belief in what’s being built in Raleigh.

NC State didn’t just land a shot blocker.

They landed a tone-setter.