Neil Everett
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Use American English Template:Infobox person Neil Everett Morfitt (born Template:Birth based on age as of date)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> is an American sportscaster. From 2009 until 2023, he was the co-anchor of the late-night Los Angeles edition of SportsCenter alongside Stan Verrett. He served as the Television Studio Host on the broadcast team of the Portland Trail Blazers for four NBA seasons from 2021 to 2025.
Early life and education
Everett was born in Portland, Oregon and raised in Spokane, Washington.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was a varsity starter in football and basketball at Lewis and Clark High School,<ref name=spevso>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=bwrmsal>Template:Cite news</ref> named to the all-city team in football at guard,<ref name=gslspr>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=mrmtcac>Template:Cite news</ref> and also played on the defensive line.<ref name=pthotl>Template:Cite news</ref> He graduated in 1980.<ref name=snestpu>Template:Cite news</ref>
Everett attended Willamette University in Salem before transferring to the University of Oregon in Eugene, where he joined Beta Theta Pi with the Gamma Sigma chapter, and graduated in 1984.<ref name=tineote>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=EverettBeta>Template:Cite news</ref>
Career
Everett started out in broadcasting at KCST-FM in Florence on the central Oregon Coast, west of Eugene. He left the media field and moved to Hawaii,<ref name=mfglk>Template:Cite news</ref> where he worked 15 years as an athletic administrator at Hawaii Pacific University.<ref name=tineote/> While still working full-time at HPU, Everett was hired at local ABC affiliate KITV, first as a news writer, then assignment editor, and finally as a sports anchor.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In April 1999, Everett interviewed with ESPN on the recommendation of a friend, but was not hired. The following year, ESPN called him for another audition, and this time he was hired as an anchor on ESPNews.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In March 2009, he relocated to California to co-anchor the late-night Los Angeles edition of SportsCenter alongside Stan Verrett, which debuted on April 6, 2009. He was in this role until June 8, 2023, Everett announced that he was leaving ESPN and SportsCenter after 23 years.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
On October 11, 2021, the Portland Trail Blazers announced the addition of Everett to their broadcast team for the 2021-22 season.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He served as the Television Studio Host for "pre, half and post-game coverage for most Trail Blazers road games" from 2021 to 2025, according to the Trail Blazers' website.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Personal life
While he was a student at Oregon in 1983, Everett's mother Jackie, a high school teacher, died from cancer at age 45.<ref name=jkrff>Template:Cite news</ref> The use of his middle name as a professional surname is a tribute to his mother, a UO alumna and Astoria native, who would call him by his first and middle name when his behavior was less than optimal.<ref name=spevso/><ref name=tineote/>
Everett's stepfather, Dave Robertson, was a longtime high school basketball coach at Shadle Park and won the state title in 1981,<ref name=jtfspno>Template:Cite news</ref> led on the court by Mark Rypien.<ref name=spevso/><ref name=gsl >Template:Cite news</ref> A math teacher, Robertson later coached at Gonzaga Prep.<ref name=rcwfacc>Template:Cite news</ref>
References
External links
- ESPN bio – Neil Everett
- Athlete Promotions – speakers – Neil Everett
- Beta Theta Pi Alumni Association – Neil Everett
- Neil Everett interview for "The Beta Theta Pi" magazine