From the court to the screen

This was never Tyreke Evans' dream. The possibility never crossed his mind.

As one of the nation's premier high school basketball players, the recent American Christian Academy graduate always expected to become a McDonald's all-American. But to be featured in a documentary was totally unexpected and different.

Come Friday, the Memphis recruit can be seen on the big screen when the documentary

Gunnin' For That #1 Spot

debuts in theaters in selected markets. It is set for national release throughout July.

"I'm definitely excited about the movie," said Evans, a 6-foot-6 combination guard. "I think they did a real good job, coming with that thought, gunnin' for the No. 1 spot. And to actually make a movie out of it, I'm pretty excited about it."

The movie, filmed in September 2006, follows eight of the nation's top high school basketball players as they were groomed for the limelight.

Evans, recent Oak Hill Academy (Va.) graduate Brandon Jennings, and Lincoln (N.Y.) senior Lance Stephenson were the only subjects still in high school this past school year.

Michael Beasley of Kansas State, Kevin Love of UCLA, Kyle Singler of Duke, Donte Greene of Syracuse, and Jerryd Bayless of Arizona also were featured.

Beasley, Bayless and Love are expected to become lottery picks in tomorrow's NBA draft, according to NBADraft.net. Greene also entered the draft.

Evans appears in the film in an interview at a park in his hometown of Chester. Close friend Nasir Robinson, a recent Chester graduate and Pittsburgh recruit, is at his side.

Eric "Pooh" Evans, one of Tyreke's older brothers, also appears in the documentary.

"I think that was a good thought," Tyreke Evans said. "With the movie coming to Chester, sitting down letting my brother and them talk about basketball and me, and my friend being there, that was a good look."