Instead, accompanied by a police escort, Tyreke Evans and his American Christian high school teammates entered Widener University's Schwartz Center through a side door, avoiding a mass of television cameras as well as potential danger.

The team went straight to a locker room guarded by a Widener security officer. Inside, five huge men stood as bodyguards; the smallest was the size of a linebacker.

Such is the extremely cautious world these days of Tyreke Evans.

The 6-foot-6 basketball phenomenon faces what Chester Township authorities call the possibility of gang retaliation after a fatal shooting in Brookhaven.

Evans was at the scene of a homicide that involved his cousin Jamar "Mar Mar" Evans on Nov. 25. Jamar Evans, 16, is charged with first-and third-degree murder in the shooting death of 19-year-old Marcus Reason, and turned himself in to Chester Township authorities Saturday.

Chester Township Capt. Kenneth J. Coalson said investigators had no doubt that Reason's death was gang-related. The Evans family has reason to be fearful, he said, speaking from police contact with gang members in the Toby Farms neighborhood.

"They're pretty bold," Coalson said. "One guy in particular . . . wouldn't hesitate to shoot up someone in revenge."

Tyreke Evans, 18, is cooperating with authorities in the case.

"Is there some type of concern for Tyreke's safety in the corner of my mind? Of course; that's human nature," said Reggie Evans, Tyreke's older brother and legal guardian. "People perceive [his being at the scene] one way. They will think that he had some type of involvement. But he didn't do anything wrong."

Because he is cooperating with the police, others may feel that he "snitched" on his cousin, something that Reggie Evans denied. Under order from his lawyer, Brian McMonagle, Tyreke Evans had no comment.

"Who is he snitching on? Nobody," Reggie Evans said. "He didn't see anybody do nothing. He didn't see anybody shoot the gun. He didn't see that kid get laid out."

Plenty of protection

His family members and friends took up the first two rows behind American Christian's bench. There were official and unofficial bodyguards at the end of the bench. Several more protectors were sprinkled among the crowd.

"We've got two extra police officers," said Scholastic Play-By-Play Classics promoter Jeremy Treatman, who organized the event. "We have 18 police officers and two metal detectors. They are a mix of Widener campus safety and Chester police."

In the game, Evans showed why he is the nation's No. 1 senior player according to Slam and Dime magazines.

Dazzling display

"I don't see this bothering him," American Christian coach Tony Bergeron said.

Nor has it affected his recruitment. Evans has listed Louisville, Memphis, Texas, Connecticut and Villanova as his final five college choices.

"Not only has nobody on that list backed off," Bergeron said, "but every single school tried to create a twist that their school" is right for him.