Entering his time at Duke, Isaiah Evans was viewed as one of the top players in the country. 

A top 15 recruit and a top five small forward in his class, Evans, a five-star, was expected to be one of the better players in the nation a year ago. 

Unfortunately, with young players in college basketball, that just simply isn’t the case for most anymore. 

It's unfair to blame Evans too much, considering the changes in the college basketball landscape, but obviously, all UNC fans want him to be a lot better moving forward. 

In 36 games a year ago, he averaged 6.8 points and shot 43.2% from the field. Fast forward a few months to this season, and he's been one of the more underrated players in the country, and has been a big factor in what Duke is trying to do on both sides of the basketball. 

Evans is currently averaging 15.7 points, more than doubling his average from a season ago.

Coming into college as one of the top players in the nation and not playing well can certainly have an impact on Evans and other players around the country. 

Whether it be physical, mental, or anything else, it isn’t easy going from a stud to just a regular player in college. 

Evans has the opportunity to be a lot better than a regular player, and if there's one thing for certain, it's not going to be a lack of confidence that holds him back.

“I don't think I feel any different,” he said, per Kevin Connelly.

“I knew I was that dude last year, but it wasn't my role at the time. I was just ready to come in and do whatever Coach wanted me to do. Even right now, I feel like I'm just coming into the season a little bit more comfortable.”

It's a positive sign that he knew he was one of the better players in the country a year ago and just had to figure some things out. 

He had to play his role, and that isn't unfair considering the talent Duke had on both sides of the basketball last season. With an expanded role this year, I expect him to continue doing what he's done and really figure things out.