New Lenox’s Kaylen Evans goes from Loyola to Morton College, finds game again. ‘I knew the better was going to come.’

Even during the low points of her basketball career, Kaylen Evans tried to remain optimistic.

The New Lenox resident played for two years at Marian Catholic and for two at Nazareth, then two seasons in college at Loyola, where she scored 32 points in 36 games.

“Even though my confidence was lacking, I was still in the gym,” said Evans, who ended up shooting 10 of 47 from the floor for the Ramblers. “I knew that better was going to come.”

Better is here.

A coaching change led to uncertainty concerning the situation at Loyola, so Evans transferred to Morton College to work on her game and mindset.

She’s averaging 19.1 points this season for the Panthers (16-0), who are ranked No. 2 in the NJCAA Division II poll after finishing second in the national tournament last winter.

“It’s really cool because I came here to get my confidence back,” she said. “I think it’s helped me so far and it’s going to help me further in my career.”

Evans, a 5-foot-6 sophomore guard with two years of eligibility after this season, has an offer from NCAA Division II Lewis. She has also heard from Division I schools.

She’s third in the nation with 55 3-pointers, including a career-high seven in a 29-point performance on Jan. 12 in a 111-44 victory over McHenry. She scored 30 points against Palm Beach State and 25 against Miami Dade during a series of December games in Florida.

Yes, whether playing in the Sunshine State or Cicero, the confidence is back.

“She came here to get herself back on the market because that kid is pretty darn good,” Morton coach Jason Nichols said. “She’s been awesome this year. Her effort defensively is so much better.

“She can do so many things — things that a lot of kids can’t do with the ball. She can create, she can score and she can pass it. That’s why she’ll probably play Division I basketball again if that’s what she wants.”

Right now, Evans and her teammates are craving a national championship.

“We want it bad enough, especially coming in second last year,” she said. “Even the past players want it for us. We have the talent to do it.”

As a senior at Nazareth, Evans helped the Roadrunners finish third in the state in Class 3A. She was named third team all-state by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association.

“That season made me want to play college basketball even more,” Evans said.

Two of her teammates from that Nazareth team — Franchesca Metz and Jovanna Martinucci — also are playing for Morton, which made it easier for Evans to blend in.

“She knows everyone and people know who she is,” Nichols said. “And when you are not a bad kid, it’s easy to mix in.

“We have good, high-character kids. They have a common goal. They want to win and get exposure.”

Heading into this week’s action, the Panthers had a 35-game winning streak at home and a 36-game winning streak for the regular season.

Evans will get to play closer to home on Feb. 9 when the Panthers visit Prairie State and on Feb. 21 against Moraine Valley.

How did Evans even get into basketball? She started played at age 5 after watching older brothers Kendall and Steven Jr. and “I just ran with it.”

Evans said the most joy she gets out of the sport is trying to help others.

“I love inspiring other people to play,” she said. “This is a talent God has given me, and it’s one of those things that I love to share with other people.”

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.