STILLWATER – In a surprising move, Oklahoma State sophomore guard Avery Anderson III has declared for the 2021 NBA Draft.
Anderson took to Twitter to make the announcement on Saturday afternoon.
“After conversations with my family, I have decided to declare for the 2021 NBA Draft without an agent.”
Anderson joins freshman sensation Cade Cunningham in announcing for the draft.
The important part of his announcement is he’s declared without an agent, meaning he can withdraw his name and return to Oklahoma State should he not get the evaluation he wants.
Anderson took a huge step up from his freshman season to his sophomore season. The 6-3, 170-pound guard out of Justin, TX averaged 12.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game this past season, while shooting a blistering 47.5% from the field. What’s more impressive was his growth down the stretch of the season. In the final 10 games of the season, Anderson averaged 16.6 points per game, which included a career-high 31 points in the 85-80 upset of No. 6 West Virginia on the road without Cade Cunningham or Isaac Likekele.
"I think it's a great sign for Oklahoma State basketball that we've got [Avery Anderson] who's gotten better," Boynton said of Anderson following the West Virginia upset. "I think he's the most improved player in the country, I think he's the most improved player in our league by far and today was an example – with our best player in Cade [Cunningham] and our leader in [Isaac Likekele] both out – he did just a little bit more. He's been playing well now, he's having a really good year, but I thought today, knowing what the moment required, that he stepped up to the challenge and really met it."
Everyone in the Big 12 knew about Anderson, but the entire country found out about him following the West Virginia win.
Anderson averaged just 4.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.0 steals as a freshman.
