ST. GEORGE – Jeremy Evans took a deep breath, then a hop-step, before bolting from half court full-speed toward teammate Gordon Hayward, who was seated just inside the free throw line, facing Evans with a ball held shoulder-high in each hand.
As Evans quickly closed the gap between the two, Hayward almost nonchalantly tossed the balls straight up. Evans leapt over Hayward, caught each ball in a widespread hand and, in one motion, dunked them both nearly simultaneously through the hoop much to the delight of the capacity crowd in Orlando.
That was three months ago and Evans, who will appear for a free clinic and autograph session Tuesday at the St. George Rec Center, is still basking in the glow that has come from being the NBA’s slam-dunk champion.
Evans may have averaged a very modest two points and two rebounds a game this season, but for one night he was king of the NBA world.
“We’ve had decent crowds the last two years he’s come here, but we expect a packed house this time, given what he’s done,” St. George Recreation Coordinator John “Rosey” Rosander said. “He barely got into the competition, and then he won it. It is great to have him coming here.”
Evans will visit Southern Utah and specifically the St. George Rec Center at 5 p.m. Tuesday. He will give a free short clinic, some slam dunk demonstrations and then sign some autographs.
The free event will feature a guy who is still fighting for his NBA life. Evans averaged less than eight minutes a game last season, despite his extreme athleticism and penchant for the spectacular dunk.
Evans, a 24-year-old from Arkansas, has two years of professional basketball under his belt after playing college ball at Western Kentucky.
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Copyright 2012 St. George News.