Hernandez; Evans Claim OC Sports Awards
June 22, 2026 | General, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
Anaheim, Calif. – UC Irvine basketball players Hunter Hernandez and Kyle Evans were honored at the second annual OC Sports Awards held at Anaheim Stadium.
Hernandez was honored as Female College Athlete of the Year, while Evans took home Male College Athlete of the Year. Each player led their team to Big West regular season titles. The star-studded event sponsored by the Orange County Sports Commission celebrated the achievements of athletes and prominent sports figures who have made a significant impact on the Orange County's sports community.
Hernandez closed out her Anteater career being named the 2025-26 Big West Women's Basketball Player of the Year, and earned her third career first-team all-conference award. She was also a five-time Big West Player of the Week and was named to the Big West Championship All-Tournament Team. She cemented her legacy as one of the most prolific scorers in UC Irvine women's basketball's 52-year history. In 2025-26, she became UCI's all-time single-season leader with 655 points, breaking the 42-year-old record of 593 that was set by Cheri Graham (1983-84). Hernandez also tied the single-game school record with a career-high 41 points at Cal Poly on March 5. Her 41 points were tied for the 12th most by an NCAA Division I women's basketball player this year. On Dec. 13, Hernandez became the 16th Anteater to reach 1,000 career points, and on Jan. 22, she became the 11th 'Eater to join the 1,000-point/500-rebound club. In addition, Hernandez broke the school record in career free throws made (402) and increased her career point total to 1,477, which ranks second in program history. On the season, Hernandez started all 33 games, averaging 19.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.2 steals. Her scoring average ranked second in the Big West and 20th in all of NCAA Division I. She was also seventh in the nation in free throws made (187). Hernandez graduated with a degree in business administration.
Evans led the nation in blocks with 115 and in block average at 3.14 per game. He was honored as first-team All-Big West and the Big West Defensive Player of the Year as well as NABC second team All-District. The forward became the UC Irvine and Big West single season block record holder with 115, surpassing former Anteater Mamadou Ndiaye's mark of 106 set in 2013-14 and ended the season with 163 career blocks, third most all-time at UCI. He was second in the Big West in rebound average (8.5), pulling down 303 for the season, which ranks fourth in a single season at UCI. The senior was also second in the Big West in field goal percentage (.624) and in double-doubles with 11 in 2025-26. Evans totaled a career-high 24 points versus North Dakota State and 16 rebounds in the first meeting with CSUN last December. He totaled five or more blocks six times during the regular season, including a career-best eight versus Northern Iowa and Hawai'i. His long list of honors this season included Lefty Driesell Defensive Player of the Year finalist as well as the Lou Henson Award finalist for best mid-major player. He was named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year watch list as well as earning Lute Olson Award National Player of the Week on Feb. 2. He was named Big West Player of the Week on December 29, 2025 and the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational MVP. Evans graduated with a degree in sociology.
This is the second consecutive year UC Irvine has swept the Female and Male College Athlete of the Year categories with women's track & field athlete Kailah McKenzie and men's volleyball player Hilir Henno earning the honors in 2025.
Hernandez was honored as Female College Athlete of the Year, while Evans took home Male College Athlete of the Year. Each player led their team to Big West regular season titles. The star-studded event sponsored by the Orange County Sports Commission celebrated the achievements of athletes and prominent sports figures who have made a significant impact on the Orange County's sports community.
Hernandez closed out her Anteater career being named the 2025-26 Big West Women's Basketball Player of the Year, and earned her third career first-team all-conference award. She was also a five-time Big West Player of the Week and was named to the Big West Championship All-Tournament Team. She cemented her legacy as one of the most prolific scorers in UC Irvine women's basketball's 52-year history. In 2025-26, she became UCI's all-time single-season leader with 655 points, breaking the 42-year-old record of 593 that was set by Cheri Graham (1983-84). Hernandez also tied the single-game school record with a career-high 41 points at Cal Poly on March 5. Her 41 points were tied for the 12th most by an NCAA Division I women's basketball player this year. On Dec. 13, Hernandez became the 16th Anteater to reach 1,000 career points, and on Jan. 22, she became the 11th 'Eater to join the 1,000-point/500-rebound club. In addition, Hernandez broke the school record in career free throws made (402) and increased her career point total to 1,477, which ranks second in program history. On the season, Hernandez started all 33 games, averaging 19.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.2 steals. Her scoring average ranked second in the Big West and 20th in all of NCAA Division I. She was also seventh in the nation in free throws made (187). Hernandez graduated with a degree in business administration.
Evans led the nation in blocks with 115 and in block average at 3.14 per game. He was honored as first-team All-Big West and the Big West Defensive Player of the Year as well as NABC second team All-District. The forward became the UC Irvine and Big West single season block record holder with 115, surpassing former Anteater Mamadou Ndiaye's mark of 106 set in 2013-14 and ended the season with 163 career blocks, third most all-time at UCI. He was second in the Big West in rebound average (8.5), pulling down 303 for the season, which ranks fourth in a single season at UCI. The senior was also second in the Big West in field goal percentage (.624) and in double-doubles with 11 in 2025-26. Evans totaled a career-high 24 points versus North Dakota State and 16 rebounds in the first meeting with CSUN last December. He totaled five or more blocks six times during the regular season, including a career-best eight versus Northern Iowa and Hawai'i. His long list of honors this season included Lefty Driesell Defensive Player of the Year finalist as well as the Lou Henson Award finalist for best mid-major player. He was named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year watch list as well as earning Lute Olson Award National Player of the Week on Feb. 2. He was named Big West Player of the Week on December 29, 2025 and the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational MVP. Evans graduated with a degree in sociology.
This is the second consecutive year UC Irvine has swept the Female and Male College Athlete of the Year categories with women's track & field athlete Kailah McKenzie and men's volleyball player Hilir Henno earning the honors in 2025.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's BasketballTuesday, May 12
Sunday, May 10
Sunday, May 10
Saturday, May 09
