East Ridge's Devon Anderson (10) makes a pass against Lookout Valley.
photo by Joseph Dycus
When Devon Anderson is rooted in the post, he in many ways resembles a cannon: an imposing and immovable object that fires the ball in all directions. The East Ridge point-forward has playmaking vision that rivals any guard in the city, and isn’t afraid to try dimes others would deem too risky. But in order for Anderson to ready himself for a critical senior year, one that could lead to a collegiate career, he had to make a “pass” of a different kind in the offseason.
“I changed my diet after the season, because I used to eat a lot,” Anderson said.
“I used to eat three or four times a day, and now I eat maybe once or twice a day. Two good meals though.”
He said his mother often cooks for both him and his extended family on Sunday and throughout the week. Anderson’s grandparents, cousins, and relatives all enjoy her cooking. While Anderson still eats plenty of his mother’s home cooking, he has begun to ‘pass’ on the great food from time to time.
“She cooks more than she needs to, and she still cooks a lot,” Anderson said. “But I've got to be smart and know when to eat that and when not to.”
A leaner and more agile version of Anderson is still a force inside, where he dazzles fans with fantastic passes to teammates like Tyree Smith and Hasani Jackson. At a level when most players are making one read at most, Anderson is comfortable scanning the floor for advanced playmaking opportunities.
“I modeled my game after Magic Johnson, but now I've started to develop my own style. I just really let the game come to me,” Anderson said. “My passing ability came from me having a feel for the game.”
“My basketball IQ has always been high, so that’s given me an edge over the rest and helps me be a step ahead of everyone else. It opens the floor for my teammates, and coach has helped because he sees things I don’t.”
As a forward in a guard-oriented attack, Anderson is usually asked to screen, rebound, and defend the rim on defense. The senior said it can be difficult to go multiple possessions without touching the ball, he also said “I love it” when asked about how much he enjoyed setting crushing screens for teammates.
“Later in the game, I get those open looks,” Anderson said. “Normally I don’t rush to get the ball, so I let the game come to me. Sometimes, you’re helping the team without the ball.”
Tyree Smith, one of Anderson’s teammates who benefits from Anderson’s ability to set screens and move the ball, plays a killer two-man game with the East Ridge forward. Against Lookout Valley on Thursday, the two’s impact were apparent from the opening tipoff. While Anderson only scored four and Smith notched nine, both made an impact on defense and with their passing.
“Devon is my brother, and we get along well on and off the court, so we have great chemistry. It was good to see him play great tonight,” Smith said. “He is working out all the time. He worked hard to get his body how he wants it.”
Currently a forward, the 6’0 Anderson’s future is most likely at guard if he wants to have a chance in college. While he has completely transformed his body since last season, Anderson still says he has a ways to go.
“The only thing I’ve been hearing from local and AAU coaches is that I need to get in shape and lose weight,” Anderson said. “Since last year, I’m probably 50 pounds lighter than I was. I done cut a lot of weight, but I want to get down even more. But I want to do it in a healthy way.”
Considering that Anderson has already made this much progress in such a short amount of time, there’s little doubt he will continue to slim down into an even more dynamic athlete. If that’s the case, fans may soon see one of East Ridge’s most-talented players doing his best Magic Johnson impression full-time in a collegiate backcourt.
Do you have an opinion on this article, or have a story you believe needs coverage? You can contact the author at Joseph.A.Dycus@gmail.com or on Twitter at @joseph_dycus.