We got two distinctively different impressions from watching Wisconsin commit Evan Anderson (#13 Scout, #21 Rivals, #14 ESPN) in two separate settingsone with his AAU team against a very weak group of players, and one at the adidas Nations. Hes clearly still trying to put everything together and it will be a ways until hes able to justify his very high recruiting ranking, but we can definitely see where the intrigue is coming from.
Anderson is a thick, left-handed, 6-11 true center with an outstanding frame and a pair of exceptionally long arms and soft hands. That alone is half the battle at this stage in a big mans development, but he has a little bit more to offer as well. Anderson has nice instincts as a shot-blocker, changing a good amount of shots around the rim with his superb length and fairly solid timing. He likes to operate with his back to the basket offensively, but really doesnt have a whole lot to offer in terms of footwork or post moves at this juncture, which is fairly understandable. He gets fouled a lot in the paint, but isnt able to convert on most of his free throw opportunities.
Anderson doesnt run the floor all that well, hes somewhat mobile but probably cant be described as being particularly athletic, and seems to be liable to lapses in intensity as the game wears on. He doesnt seem to go after every rebound, and got easily frustrated by the rough play he encountered in one particular occasion we saw him. Hes going to have problems staying out of foul trouble early on his career most likely, and generally should be considered a project at this point. Considering what he brings to the table with his physical attributes and budding skills, though, hes obviously a guy to keep an eye on in the long-term.
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