‘Work as hard as me’: Former North Meck star flexes his basketball IQ at clinic for kids 

CONCORD, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – As a player, his nickname is Showtime Slim, but on Friday, Isaiah Evans assumed the role of “Coach Slim.”

“My biggest message is just consistent work and keeping your head down, is what’s going to put you in the same position as me,” he told Queen City News.

His position is Duke guard, which sets him up for his NBA dream. The pride of North Meck flexed his basketball IQ at the Isaiah Evans Basketball Camp in Concord.

He brought his crossover appeal to a group excited to learn.

“There you go, now crossover again… that’s all you’ve got to do,” he said, leading kids through a dribbling drill.

The camp was hosted by nonprofit Destined 4 Greatness Hoops.

“They get to see a hero that comes from the same place that they come made it to the heights they’re trying to reach,” says Dequan Starnes, the organization’s CEO and founder. “I think if you expose kids to the possibility, the influence that you’ll have on them is limitless.”

“I think [basketball] just teaches you how to deal with people from all walks of life,” said Evans.

“Don’t lose that ball! Don’t lose that ball,” Evans said, playfully poking a player in the chest while he dribbled. “Why you laughing?”

“You know I can just try and give back to the kids as possible, just give them a voice of guidance from a distance, maybe. And even now, giving them guidance up close,“ Evans said.

His journey to Duke and an impressive resume includes a state championship and a two-time North Carolina Mr. Basketball.

But what most don’t realize is that it took him years to become an overnight success.

“You’ll hear that a lot. They’re like, ‘Oh, he came out of nowhere,’” says his mom, Marieke Lemon.

Her son worked on his game for a long time before he was ever recruited.

Surprisingly, Isaiah admits he sometimes struggled with confidence.

“You might think you’re not good enough. Sometimes you might think you’re doing this for no reason. But you know only the strong will survive,” Evans said.

“Just watching him go through that and wait for his turn to be in that spotlight and just take off from there,“ Lemon marveled.

“That was crazy for me, just the slow incline to where I am now,” says Evans.

Showtime Slim has more than a flashy moniker to his name. The rising star rose above adversity with sheer will.

“I like to think that if you work as hard as me you can be in the same position I’m in now,” he says.