In 1995 the Chicago Cubs drafted Everett in the fourth round out of Harrison High School. He did not sign with the team and in 1998 he was selected by the Boston Red Sox with the 12th pick of the Major League draft. During the 1998 and 1999 seasons, Everett played for A Lowell and AA Trenton before he was traded to the Houston Astros during the 2000 season. That season he played 126 games at AAA New Orleans where he batted .245. Taking a break from minor league baseball he traveled to Sydney for the 2000 Summer Olympics, where he helped the US team capture the gold medal.