Community Sports: Bison alum plays tonight, ready to make a buzz as Bronco (6/15/23)

McCook senior Evan Humphrey draws a crowd of Grand Island Northwest defenders during the subdistrict title game at McCook High in February. Evan will play for the Southwest Conference to night as part of tonight’s New West All-Star Basketball Classic at Minden High School.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

MINDEN, Neb. — It’s almost time for an Evan Humphrey fresh haircut and stepping into his next big challenge.

“Yup, I’ll be trimming it when basketball starts,” the 2023 McCook High graduate said recently without even a hair flip. “Then get down to business.”

Basketball starts? Much like the NBA, does basketball really ever end for Evan?

He’s a rat. As in one of McCook’s favorite gym rats during recent Bison seasons.

Pros might be taking a break after NBA finals finished Monday.

Evan just keeps on firing shots this week.

“I love it,” he confirmed.

One of Class B’s best three-point shooters will play one more official “high school” game in the New West All-Star Classic tonight.

Evan joins other Southwest Conference top 2023 seniors for a game against the Lou-Platte Conference’s best at Minden High School.

After tonight, he’ll remain teammates with Ogalalla rival Jeron Gager to begin Hastings College hoops careers in 2023-24.

Get the clippers out!

McCook High alum/Broncos coach Todd Raridon can’t wait to see a trimmed Evan at Hastings.

“Evan can light it up from deep,” Raridon proclaimed. “Defensively, it’s hard to get to him because he such a high release. We’re going to run screens to get him open.”

The Broncos are aiming to build on last year’s 15-14 season.

Evan helped McCook go 34-17 during his final two seasons sandwiched around a Class B state tennis championship last fall.

Basketball is a no-doubt No. 1 love for the self-proclaimed rat, who hit 94 three-pointers during his junior season where McCook won 20 games.

Evan’s role had to adjust last season because of some unfortunate Bison injury.

However, he actually averaged slightly more points (15.94 over 15.48) while ranking among McCook’s best in almost everything including top shot BLOCKER.

“He’s always been a kid who could put the ball in the hoop,” McCook coach Joe Imus said about his four Bison seasons with Evan. “But when he was younger, he struggled a bit on the defensive end.”

“I’ve seen him do defensive drills on his own, watch a lot of film and put in the time,” Imus added. “It’s been good to see how he has progressed throughout his career on defense.”

The 6’2” Humphrey couldn’t help but recognize plenty of help from coaches like Imus and tennis leader Matt Wiemers. Besides McCook’s historic Class B team title, Evan joined junior Lincoln Michaelis to win the No. 1 doubles state title.

“Wiemers helped shape me into the man I am today and coach Imus was right there too,” Even recalled after the Hastings signing ceremony in late April. “I really appreciated him (Imus) because he was always hard on me because he believed in me. When I got discouraged, they (Imus and Wiemers) were there to lift me up.”

“A lot of great experiences and good memories,” he concluded.