From grind to greatness: The rise of Evan Joyner at Augusta

By Nolan Turner | Sports writer

Augusta University basketball is right around the corner.

Evan Joyner is a name you may have heard in the past, but will hear a lot in this year’s basketball season. Joyner is a native to Greensboro, North Carolina standing at 6-foot-7 and is now a grad student wearing a Jaguar uniform for the second year in a row

Joyner started basketball in second grade where he played on a team for the first time. Basketball seems to be in his blood. His father has been a basketball coach for years at the college level. Evan has seen his dad coach different schools and programs, and he even was able to play for his dad at a junior college in Arizona called Yavapai College. 

The Jaguars have lost some familiar faces to the transfer portal and graduation. However, Joyner remains with Augusta and enters this season ready to take on a bigger role. Last year, he played in 27 out of the 30 games, starting 15 of them, and averaged 6.5 points along with 4 rebounds per game.

“Last year I started out the season with an injury so I think that had me really in my head bad and it was kind of a mental block I wasn’t able to play free with a clear mind, so I was kind of setback,” said Joyner.

Reflecting on the upcoming season, Joyner shared his mindset:

“This year is different for me because you know there is a lot of my highlights in videos that the community gets to see, and last year I couldn’t perform on the court or play the way that people see in the videos. This year people will get to see me perform better overall, this season and not just one time in a video”.

This fall, Joyner aims to prove just how much he has grown as a player.

Evan dominates the paint on both ends of the floor, using his height and his advanced skills to control the game. While he provides a strong, physical presence in the paint for the Jags, he is not afraid to pull the trigger from behind the 3-point line. 

Evan discussed the upcoming season and the impact the new faces on the roster.

“We brought in some talent and it’s going to be a lot of fun to go and compete with those guys because they have a lot of experience and that’s the main thing that matters, guys who can play is because of experience”. 

Augusta forward Evan is expected to play a significant role for the Jags this season. Throughout his career, he has faced adversity, from transferring between schools to beginning last season with an injury. Those challenges have shaped him into a key contributor, admired for his determination and ability to push through. 

Joyner is expected to be one of the key pieces to what the Jaguars hope will be another winning season.

Evan stated, “the team has already been working hard and building team chemistry, I think it is going to be a good season.”

The Jaguars have begun their preparations for the upcoming season and continue to put in the work ahead of tipoff.

With the hard work the Jaguars have put in during the offseason, they look ready to roll when the time comes. Evan Joyner is shaping up to be an even bigger topic this season, with the potential to lead the Jags to another winning season and possibly a championship run.

Contact Nolan Turner at noturner@augusta.edu.

AU’s Evan Joyner (0) attacks the basket during a 94-79 loss to Lenoir-Rhyne at Columbus at last season’s NCAA Division II Southeast Regional. At the top of the page, Joyner looks to make a pass in a conference game in Christenberry Fieldhouse. (photos by Paula Toole/AU Athletics)