Coeur d'Alene's Symons commits to D-I Evansville

By MARK NELKE 

Sports editor 

A couple of familiar faces on the coaching staff weighed into the decision, but was not the No. 1 reason Coeur d’Alene High senior shooting guard recently gave a verbal commitment to play basketball at NCAA Division I Evansville next season. 

“First of all, their basketball system really fits me; I’ll be able to fit in really well on their basketball team,” Symons said. “And their coaching staff is really amazing; when I went down there on my visit I could just tell that their culture was really strong, and that it would be a really fun place to play.” 

The 6-foot-3 Symons, a second-team all-Idaho selection in 6A last season, picked the Aces of Evansville, Ind., over Central Arkansas and Idaho State. 

He said he also had offers from Idaho, Weber State, Cal State Northridge and Portland.

Symons averaged 20.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game for the Vikings last season. 

Symons said Evansville had been recruiting him for more than a year. The Aces offered a scholarship when Symons made an official recruiting visit two weekends ago. After taking some time to “sleep on it,” Symons told Evansville coaches last Tuesday that he was coming there. 

"Mostly I like how the full coaching staff was invested in improving all the players’ games,” Symons said. “And they’re also really invested in the classroom as well, because it’s a private school and a really good education. They know that it’s more than basketball, so they’re trying to help you grow into a good man and also, focusing on your game." 

Evansville assistant coach George Swanson is a former assistant coach at North Idaho College, where he worked under NIC head coach Corey Symons, Caden’s dad. And Sammy Dowd, who played for Corey at NIC, is also an Evansville assistant. 

When Caden committed by phone last week, Swanson, Dowd and Aces head coach David Ragland, who were all part of the recruiting process, were on the call. 

Caden said having Swanson and Dowd in Evansville was “huge.” 

“Going that far from home, I’m not going to be able to get home very often, so having some familiar faces to talk to and stuff, it’ll make that college life a little more easy,” Caden said. 

“It was for sure a factor ... but there were a bunch of other things,” Caden added. “Like coach Rags, I love him, he’s a great coach and great guy, and they have a strong Christian background, so that also helped with my decision.” 

Symons can sign a letter of intent during the early signing period for Division I and II, which is Nov. 12-19. The regular signing period begins April 15, 2026. 

Ragland is entering his fourth season as Evansville coach. The Aces, who play in the Missouri Valley Conference, finished 11-21 last year. 

Symons, also quarterback for the Coeur d'Alene High football team, said he wanted to make his college decision early so he could enjoy the rest of his senior year. 

Caden’s mom, Nicole, is a former Coeur d’Alene High girls basketball coach. Both Corey and Nicole played in college. Caden’s sister, Madi, is a junior on the Wyoming women’s basketball team. 

“They really tried to stay out of my final decision,” Caden said, “but they did a good job of letting me bounce ideas off of them.” 

Madi’s advice? 

“She said a lot of basketball’s going to be hard wherever you go,” Caden said. “Focus on the community and the people that will be around you outside of basketball, because all the help you can get outside of basketball is crucial. Being a college athlete is not easy, there’s a lot of stress, so you want to have people to talk to, and help you get through that.”