Golden guarding: USUE Men’s Basketball team

The USU Eastern Golden Eagles Men’s Basketball team is hitting the court with a new group and a seasoned coach at the helm. Under the leadership of head coach Bill Evans, now in his fourth year, the team has posted a 3-3 record thus far, showing early signs of both promise and room for growth. After a standout 19-9 season last year, expectations are high for the Golden Eagles as they seek to build on recent successes despite major roster changes.

Evans, who has held a winning record throughout his tenure at USU Eastern, brings a wealth of experience to the program. Formerly the head coach of Southern Utah University from 1992 to 2007, he remains the winningest coach in SUU’s history, with 209 wins with the Thunderbirds. In his three years with the Golden Eagles, Evans has not only led his teams to strong finishes but has also helped 10 players transition to play at four-year schools, showcasing his commitment to developing talent both on and off the court.

“I tell every kid I talk to about playing here: If you don’t want a 75-year-old kicking you in the butt, don’t come here,” said associate head coach Easton Ralphs, referring to Evans. “But if you don’t want a 75-year-old to give you a hug and tell you how much he loves you, don’t come here either.”

After years of competing at the Division I level, Evans has encountered new challenges in his transition to the junior college level. USU Eastern has an advantage that other colleges at this level don’t: It offers the same programs as the Logan campus, allowing students to choose between pursuing an associate degree or completing their entire bachelor’s degree. However, many players on the team aspire to be recruited by four-year schools, so most will leave the program after two or three years.

Building a winning culture and consistent team chemistry can be challenging at the junior college level, but the players have embraced the philosophy instilled by their seasoned coach.

“I think the thing with our team is we just have really good guys, so we all get along well,” said guard Mark Huber.

“The campus isn’t that big, so we practice together every day, we live together, we eat in the cafeteria together, so we spend a lot of time together. When you have good, solid people, you can just kind of mesh and gel and become good friends on and off the court.”

The Golden Eagles are an especially fresh-faced squad this season, with only four returning players. This significant overhaul gives several newcomers a chance to make their mark, and two players are stepping up as key contributors. First-year player Ike Palmer has emerged as the team’s leading scorer at 14.3 points per game, while Jaxon Heiden has become a force in the paint, leading the team with 5.1 rebounds per game.

Despite the significant roster turnover, the Golden Eagles are looking to carry forward the momentum from last year’s success. In the 2023-24 season, the team achieved one of the most successful campaigns in recent program history, led by standout player Martel Williams. Williams, who averaged a record-breaking 27 points per game, has since transferred to California Baptist University, where he competes at the Division I level.

This season, the Golden Eagles face the challenge of blending new players into the team dynamic and finding ways to replicate last year’s winning formula. With Evans’ guidance and emerging leaders on the roster, the Golden Eagles aim to make their mark in the Scenic West Athletic Conference once again.

“Our team has stuck together,” said forward Ryker Richards. 

“We started off the year hot, and then we lost a couple heartbreakers. Our common goal is to try to get better and play hard enough that we can win a conference championship, so we’ve just been battling it out and staying together as a team.”

And with such a respected and beloved leader in Evans, the last thing the players want to do is let him down.

“His biggest thing is you gotta be tough and be able to play through a lot of things in basketball,” Richards said. “He definitely helps us learn how to do that, both in practice and outside of practice.”