Oklahoma State University Athletics
Anderson Declares for NBA Draft
March 22, 2010 | Cowboy Basketball
March 22, 2010
Stillwater, Okla. -- James Anderson, the unanimous Big 12 Player of the Year and a member of the Oklahoma State Cowboy Basketball team, announced today that he will enter the 2010 NBA Draft.
"This was a very difficult decision for me," Anderson said. "After discussing the pros and cons with my parents, my high school coach, and Coach (Travis) Ford, I believe now is the time for me to pursue my dream of playing in the NBA. I'm officially announcing my plans to enter the 2010 NBA Draft."
The native of Junction City, Ark., just completed his junior season, leading the Cowboys to a 22-11 record and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. He led the team and league in scoring, averaging 22.3 points per game.
"This decision was particularly difficult for me because the past three years have been a great experience," said Anderson. "I have grown so much as a person and as a basketball player. We have won a number of big games and reached the NCAA Tournament the last two seasons since I have been a student-athlete here."
Anderson scored 735 points this season, the second-most ever by a Cowboy Basketball player behind Bryant Reeves' 797 points in 1994-95. Anderson also scored 1,811 career points, the fourth-most ever by a Cowboy in school history.
"This has been about James Anderson since day one," Ford said. "He could have left last year and been probably a mid-to-late first-round draft pick. He chose to stay because of this University. We talked about it a lot. He loves going to school here. He loves his teammates. He made a commitment. He made a sacrifice that few people probably would have made last year to come back and be a part of this University and this basketball family.
"What we've heard is very positive; all very, very good things. We laid it all out there and I said, `James, what do you want to do? Don't worry about the basketball team, don't worry about me. This is about you and what's best for you.' He said, `I think I'm going to go.' And I said, `that's the right decision, I'm glad you said it'. He needs to move on. He's done a lot for this University and he's done a lot for this basketball program, now it's time to go to the NBA."
The 2010 NBA Draft will take place on Thursday, June 24 in Madison Square Garden in New York City.
