Former Booker T. star returns as girls hoops coach

Former Booker T. Washington basketball standout Michael Evans is coming home.

Evans, a former All-American for the Bookers, is returning as the girls basketball coach.

Evans, 35, has been an assistant at Wilson High School the past two seasons. He coached on the AAU and recreation levels after a knee injury ended his pro career in 1999.

"I've been around a long time and I've studied the game," said Evans, who as a high school senior in 1992 was regarded as one of the best point guards in the country. "I also was fortunate that Wilson coach Roger Smith gave me a good opportunity to learn the game from a coaching standpoint. I'm just excited to come back home. It's a beautiful thing."

Evans replaces Mike Fariss, who stepped down at the end of last season. Fariss' Bookers finished 11-13 last season and earned a spot in the Eastern Region tournament.

"Mike Fariss brought stability and now we're looking to Mike Evans to take the program to the next level," Booker T. Washington athletic director Tim Haynes said. "Mike Evans has been working with the Wilson girls program and really helped them. We're looking for him to bring the Booker T. girls back to prominence."

Defensive prospect set to join truckers

Churchland football coach Cedric Cradle got a nice surprise while preparing his Truckers to open practice.

Cradle, in his second year as Churchland's head coach, learned that rising junior Kevon Newsome is leaving Western Branch to join the Truckers. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Newsome is the younger brother of quarterback Kevin Newsome, who is regarded as one of the nation's top prospects.

"His parents came to me and talked to me about it," Cradle said. "I just feel blessed because the kid is awesome."

Cradle said Newsome's parents wanted to move Kevon after Kevin decided to play his senior season at Hargrave Military Academy instead of at Western Branch.

The younger Newsome could be one of the area's top defensive players this season and should be one of the state's top prospects as a senior. Cradle said he plans to use Newsome at middle linebacker and tight end.