Overtime: High school athletics in Connecticut

Fans of Chris Evans will not have to travel far to watch him play in college.

Evans, the former Stamford High School two-sport star, gave a verbal commitment Friday to attend Sacred Heart University next year on a full basketball scholarship.

“I’m really excited about this,” Evans said late Friday night. “I really like the coaches and the guys on the team. It will give me a chance to play close to home, which is important. I’m proud to be a Pioneer.”

Evans, who is currently taking a post-graduate year at The Taft School, is still not academically eligible to play for Sacred Heart. He took the SAT this morning, prior to playing in the football team’s game tonight against Loomis Chaffee.

Evans said he chose SHU over New Hampshire, Maine, Long Island University, Vermont, St. Peter’s and Robert Morris.

Two current Pioneer players, Nick Greenbacker and Stan Dulaire, were Evans’ teammates on the Connecticut Basketball Club AAU team two years ago.

The Pioneers finished with a 17-14 mark a year ago.

“I think Sacred Heart is a great fit for him,” Stamford High School basketball coach Jim Moriarty said. “I think he has the potential to be as good in that league as he was in the FCIAC. A player like that is rare, who can make everyone around him better. He has things you can’t teach. He sees the floor, creates plays and when he doesn’t create for someone else he scores, which is good.”

Evans was an integral part to the Black Knights winning their first FCIAC basketball title since 1964 last winter. Evans averaged 21 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, as Stamford used a furious rally to defeat Trinity Catholic, 65-63, in double overtime in the final.

Stamford went on to advance to the semifinals of the state tournament and finish 24-3.

Evans had a record-breaking season for the Stamford football team as a senior. He set school marks for receptions (86), yards (1,410) and touchdown catches (21).

The Taft football team is currently 5-1. Evans will be playing on the basketball team in the winter.

Evans said he made an official visit to Sacred Heart two weeks ago, which finalized his decision. He said he had a good visit with Dave Bike, the Pioneers’ coach.

“I just felt really comfortable there and liked everything about it,” Evans said. “I had been to the campus a lot and played there before. “My family and friends will be able to see me the next four years, which is a huge part. Coach Bike is great. I really like his coaching style. It’s much different from Coach Moriarty. Coach Moriarty likes to scream and Coach Bike is more laid back. There are two different styles, but I like them both.

Moriarty said he always thought SHU was a good option for Evans and asked him to give the school strong consideration while he was at Stamford.

“It’s a win-win,” Moriarty said. “He gets to play close to home, which is important to him, and he will get a good education. Sacred Heart is getting more that a great basketball player, they are getting a great kid.”

Evans said he is happy to have the choice behind him so he can now focus on getting himself in a position to play next season.

“Right now the Taft thing is going great,” Evans said. “I’m working hard. It’s a totally different academic environment. There’s a lot of support. All the school stress is now aside so I can work on my academics. I’ve got a home for next year, now I have to do what I need to get done this year.”