House Resolution 81

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING KEN EVANS, JR., UPON BEING NAMED 2024 SOUTHWESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE YEAR.

WHEREAS, Ken Evans, Jr., Jackson State University (JSU) Tigers men's basketball star guard, has been named the 2024 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Player of the Year, a truly exceptional achievement; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Evans, a graduate of Forest Hill High School in Jackson, Mississippi, had a historic regular season for the Tigers, breaking into the top 10 leaderboard of most points scored in their JSU career, joining current associate head coach Trey Johnson; and

WHEREAS, outstandingly, Mr. Evans led the team in scoring during the 2023-2024 season, and was the only player to start all 31 regular season games, and he averaged a career-high 18.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game on 41% shooting from the field and 40% from three-point range; and

WHEREAS, a native of Jackson, Mississippi, Mr. Evans became the ninth player from JSU to be named the SWAC Player of the Year and the first since 2021, and he joins the Tigers' assistant coach, Trey Johnson, as a SWAC Player of the Year award-winner, and Mr. Evans was also named to the All-SWAC First Team; and

WHEREAS, Jackson State University has the second-most winners of this illustrious award, and past winners of the award for the Tigers include back-to-back winners Eugene Short (1974 and 1975) and his younger brother Purvis Short (1977 and 1978), along with Lindsey Hunter (1993), Trey Johnson (2006-2007), Garrison Johnson (2009-2010), and Tristan Jarrett (2020-2021); and

WHEREAS, Mr. Evans finished the regular season atop the SWAC in scoring, eighth in assists (2.87), fourth in defensive rebounds (4.26), and first in minutes played, and he scored his 1,000th career point this year; and

WHEREAS, additionally, Mr. Evans earned SWAC Player of the Week on two different occasions and scored 20 points or more in 11 games during the season and in double-figures in each SWAC game he played, including a career-high 37 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend extraordinary Mississippi student-athletes, especially those such as Mr. Evans, whose hard work and dedication brings honor to the sport of basketball, Jackson State University, and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Mr. Ken Evans, Jr., upon being named 2024 SWAC Player of the Year, and extend best wishes for continued success in all his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Ken Evans, Jr., and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.