FAYETTEVILLE — The incoming class for Arkansas has grown to five with the addition of Abby Cheek (Seguin, Texas) and Lauren Evans (Grapevine, Texas) as announced Wednesday morning by head coach Jason Watson.
“The addition of Abby and Lauren provides us with additional depth and competition in our gym,” Watson said. “I’m excited to coach both of them. They are remarkable student-athletes and great people.”
Abby Cheek
6-1 | OH | Seguin, Texas (Seguin HS)
About Cheek…
A four-year starter and three-time district selection for Seguin High School, Cheek was named the District 26-5A Offensive MVP after a senior season in which she registered 569 kills, 341 digs and 33 service aces. She totaled 1,455 kills, 725 digs and 133 aces during her prep career. Cheek was a three-time member of the All-District First Team and helped Seguin to a pair of area titles and three trips to the 5A state playoffs.
Cheek played club volleyball with Austin Juniors and has past international experience as a member of the United States team that played in the 2016 European Global Challenge in Croatia. In the classroom, she was a four-time Academic All-District performer.
Abby is the daughter of Louis and Suzanne Cheek, and has three siblings—Emily, Joseph and Henry. Her father played in the NFL for six seasons and her brother is a current offensive lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers, while her sister played volleyball (2008-11) at Loyola Marymount. Cheek is planning to enroll in the Walton College of Business at Arkansas.
Lauren Evans
5-11 | OH | Grapevine, Texas (Colleyville Heritage HS)
About Evans…
Evans capped her standout prep career with All-State and District 8-5A MVP honors after leading Colleyville Heritage High School to the regional final round of the 5A state playoffs. During her senior season, she tallied 658 kills while hitting .375 to go along with 350 digs and 88 aces. Overall, Evans amassed 1,788 kills, 1,038 digs and 199 services aces in her career at Colleyville Heritage.
As a four-time all-district performer, Evans began her career as the District 7-6A Newcomer of the Year and was named the District 8-5A Utility Player of the Year following her junior campaign. She played club volleyball with Skyline Juniors and was an academic all-district selection in each of her four years in high school
Lauren is the daughter of Lane and Jennifer Evans and has an older sister, Morgan. She plans to major in marketing during her career at Arkansas.
Razorbacks Add Three During Early Signing Period
Cheek and Evans will join Ellease Crumpton, Maylin Garrett and Gracie Ryan as part of the Razorbacks’ freshman class in 2018. The Razorbacks first announced Crumpton, Garrett and Ryan during the early signing period. This marks the second recruiting class for Watson and his staff—Jon Newman-Gonchar and Megan Wargo-Kearney—at Arkansas.
