ASU’s Evans, Justice enter Suns workout with uncertain futures

PHOENIX — Arizona State senior guards Shannon Evans II and Kodi Justice are not projected to be selected in the NBA Draft and they knew that heading into their workout on Tuesday with the Phoenix Suns.

The question is what comes next following a successful final season in Tempe, and for both of them, it’s simple: they just want to keep playing basketball.

“Whatever it takes,” Justice said. “I love to compete. I’m a competitor. I love this game.”

Evans agreed. He hasn’t thought about going pro overseas or formulated any more plans outside of continuing on the current path.

“As long as you can,” Evans said. “You’ve got a short span to play basketball for.”

Justice, who is from Mesa, has a special connection to the Suns outside of playing his college ball less than a half-hour away.

“I’m wearing No. 13 right now on the back of this jersey,” Justice said. “Steve Nash, (my) favorite player. To be able to be a hometown kid, to be able to play for your hometown team, (it’s) the greatest opportunity ever.”

Evans and Justice were joined by Cincinnati’s Jacob Evans III, Australia’s William McDowell-White, Temple’s Obi Enechionyia and Wyoming’s Alan Herndon in the workout Tuesday. And after playing with guards Tra Holder and Remy Martin at Arizona State, both Evans and Justice wanted to show how much they could handle the ball despite sharing the workload in a crowded backcourt.

Both have clear skills as professionals.

Evans is a combo guard who can really handle the ball and score. He grew as an off-ball threat and defender under head coach Bobby Hurley in Tempe. As a senior, Evans averaged 16.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists a game.

Justice, meanwhile, produced due to his terrific shooting ability and on-court savvy. It’s not difficult to imagine Justice being a pesky, annoying shooting threat off the bench for a good European side. Justice posted 12.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists a game for the Sun Devils.

As far as the longevity of a playing career, Evans is looking further than that and has an interest in coaching.

“If you’re lucky, you might get seven, eight years out of this so I just want to play as long as I can and then I’m done,” Evans said. “Hopefully, Coach Hurley got a job for me.”

He made sure to confirm, though, that he will be able to hold himself in check better than Hurley on the sidelines.

“He’s a nutcase,” Evans joked.

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