STILLWATER – Oklahoma State point guard Avery Anderson III is once again testing the NBA Draft waters.
This is the second time entering the draft process as Anderson III entered his name into the NBA Draft process following the end of last season as well before deciding to return for another season.
This allows Avery to receive feedback from NBA scouts and coaches on his game and whether or not they believe him to be ready to take the next step in his career. As long as Avery doesn’t hire an agent, he can return to Oklahoma State next season if he doesn’t hear what he wants to.
Avery had a solid junior this past year in 2021-22. He averaged 12.1 points a game on 40% shooting from the field. He also shot 32% from beyond the 3-point line. The game against Iowa State on Jan. 26 was the best game of his career as he dropped a career-high 34 points on the Cyclones. He also recorded a career-best five made 3-pointers on 11 attempts and went 11-of-13 from the free throw line.
Those numbers come off a very similar sophomore season in which Anderson III averaged 12.2 points and 4.0 rebounds a game. However, it was down the stretch of the season in which really broke out nationally. He dropped three 20-plus point scoring performances in the final six games of the season, while averaging 19. 2 on nearly 53% shooting to end the season.
That included dropping a then career-high 31 points against West Virginia in the absence of Cade Cunningham and Isaac Likekele in the final game of the regular season. He then dropped 17 on the Mountaineers in the first game of the Big 12 tournament and 20 points against the eventual national champs, Baylor, in the semifinals of the Big 12 tournament.
Should Avery decide to continue with the NBA Draft process and not return to Oklahoma State, that would leave Mike Boynton and Co. with nine scholarship players, with the addition of incoming freshman, Quion Williams. Bryce Williams graduated and has no remaining eligibility, Keylan Boone, Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe and Donovan Williams entered the transfer portal, as did senior guard Isaac Likekele as a grad transfer.
