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Justin Anderson, 21 Years Old, 6’6″, Small Forward, Virginia Cavaliers
Justin Anderson’s final season at Virginia saw Anderson take a leap in one particular offensive department: three-point shooting. He shot 30% his freshman year and 29% his sophomore year; there wasn’t much hope for Anderson’s floor-spacing potential. His junior year was a different story, though. He shot an impressive 45% from three, all while taking 104 of them. His improved shooting stroke makes Anderson a legitimate NBA prospect. Without his newfound shooting ability, Anderson doesn’t have much more to offer on the offensive end. He is limited off the dribble for the most part, although he should be able to finish around the rim with his strong build. He might be able to develop into a quality cutter a few years into his career.
Anderson’s real value may lie on the defensive end. He learned great defensive traits under Tony Bennett, and that frame won’t hurt his potential either. He knows all the principles of a good defender. He’s quick enough to stay in front of shooting guards, but also strong enough to avoid a size mismatch against small forwards. He averaged four rebounds per game in his junior season at Virginia also, so that could become another asset in his game.
At this point in his career, Anderson projects as a great “3-and-D” player; he will be able to space the floor on the offensive end, and contribute positively on the defensive end. He could be an excellent, prototypical role player for many years. His superb basketball IQ helps his case to slide into becoming a role player on a contending team next year.
The main strength of Anderson’s game will be his defense. The three-point shooting is not a guarantee by any means, but Anderson will always work his tail off defensively. That alone should help him secure a roster spot to begin his career. His weakness will be his inability to do more on the offensive end. Without a respected first step, defenders will be able to close out hard on him, something he didn’t have to worry about in college.
Anderson’s game can reflect the way Rick Fox used to play in the 90s and early-2000s. Fox had a similar body type to Anderson in his playing days. He was also a smart basketball player, and important role player on championship-winning Laker teams during the Shaq-Kobe era. Like Fox, Anderson could be that intelligent type of role player for a contender as soon as next season. Fox shot 35% from three for his career, a number that is attainable for Anderson. Both players are stout on defense, too.
Anderson should expect to come off the bench in his first few seasons in the NBA, as he is not extremely polished coming out of college. He could see minutes on the right team, though. Expected to be picked in the late first round, Anderson could also see some early playoff experience, which is beneficial to any young player.
