From Kansas City to Chapel Hill: How Kyan Evans and His Father Navigated the High-Stakes NIL Era

From Kansas City to Chapel Hill: How Kyan Evans and His Father Navigated the High-Stakes NIL Era

On a humid Sunday afternoon in Kansas City, the sound of squeaking sneakers and echoing “swish” filled the Staley High School gym. At center court, 6-foot-2 point guard Kyan Evans danced with the basketball  dribbling between his legs, whipping it behind his back  before pulling up from well beyond the arc. The defender could only watch as the ball ripped through the net, barely brushing the rim.

It was just one shot in a friendly open run, but for those who know Evans, it was a reminder of why he has become one of the most sought-after players in college basketball  and why the name “Kyan Evans” now comes with a seven-figure price tag.

The Rise of a Kansas City Hoops Star

Evans’ basketball journey began in the Northland, where he led Staley High School to four conference and district titles and a Missouri Class 6 state championship in 2023. That same year, he was crowned Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year and took home the prestigious DiRenna Award for the Kansas City metro’s top boys basketball player.

After graduating, he took his talents to Colorado State University. His freshman year, Evans came off the bench in 36 games, but by his sophomore season, he had secured a starting role  and started turning heads nationwide.

Shooting 44.6% from beyond the arc, Evans became one of the most lethal three-point threats in the Mountain West Conference. Then came the moment that changed everything: the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

Against Memphis, Evans erupted for 23 points and six three-pointers, electrifying March Madness fans and putting himself squarely on the radar of top programs across the country.

The Transfer Portal Shockwave

When CSU head coach Niko Medved left for Minnesota just one day after the season ended, Evans faced a career-defining decision. Encouraged by his father, Steve, he entered the NCAA transfer portal on March 29  essentially the free agency market for college athletes.

The moment his name appeared, the phone lit up.

“We heard from every coach in the country,” Steve recalled. “It was literally that crazy. We had no idea how much he was worth until it came up.”

Top programs  Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, and more  all reached out. Within days, Evans realized he could command not just attention, but serious money.

The NIL Jackpot

In the new college sports landscape, athletes can profit from their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). For Evans, this meant life-changing opportunity. By April, he had committed to the University of North Carolina  one of basketball’s most storied programs  with a reported $2 million NIL deal in hand.

Remarkably, Evans never took an in-person visit to Chapel Hill before signing.

“They told us what he was going to make,” Steve said. “We were like, OK.”

His decision capped a whirlwind 10-day stretch filled with Zoom calls, negotiations, and high-stakes choices. While the payday was immense, Evans and his father admit the process was stressful and unfamiliar.

The Business of Being a College Athlete

Navigating the portal and NIL market required more than basketball skill  it demanded business acumen. Evans leaned on agent Reggie Brown of Priority Sports to handle negotiations, but family guidance remained at the core of every decision.

“Have a plan with your money,” Evans advised. “My dad actually helps me with mine. You’re young, you have some wealth, but you want to be able to sustain that.”

For Steve Evans, the journey underscored just how drastically college athletics have changed.

“It’s uncharted territory,” he said. “You don’t really know how to navigate it until you’re in it.”

The ‘Pied Piper’ of Kansas City Hoops

Beyond his talent, Evans has built a reputation as a connector in the local basketball scene. Staley coach Chris Neff calls him the “Pied Piper of Kansas City basketball”  a player who can assemble the best talent in the area for competitive, high-energy pickup games.

That charisma, combined with elite shooting and unshakable confidence, has made him a fan favorite long before suiting up for the Tar Heels.

What’s Next

Now in Chapel Hill, Evans joins a UNC program steeped in tradition, aiming to add his name alongside legends who wore Carolina blue before him. But he remains grounded, his focus still on hard work rather than his bank account.

“I wouldn’t put the money first initially,” he said. “Just wait, keep grinding, and the money will come to you.”

In a sport where the stakes  and the paychecks  have never been higher, Evans’ journey from Kansas City to UNC offers a blueprint for how talent, family support, and smart decision-making can turn a local star into a national name.