Braeden Anderson is taking his talents to South Orange, New Jersey.  The 6’9” tall and 240 pound big man from Okotoks, Alberta will suit up for Seton Hall in 2015-16 he told Hoops Hype Canada Thursday evening.

“I had a phenomenal visit. Was able to sit down with the dean of law and discuss my situation. While he made sure to inform me that it will be extremely challenging, they expressed their upmost support, and excitement. No one has really done this before, so I think it’s an exciting situation for everyone.” Anderson said about his visit to the Pirates campus.

Yes— a young man once deemed a partial qualifier is about to embark on an unprecedented journey  balancing both law school and the rigorous schedule of NCAA hoops.

“The amazing news is that they will let me.  I will be playing basketball and going to law school,” Anderson reiterated.

Is there a Canadian basketball player who has endured more of a roller coaster ride then Braeden Anderson has? You would be hard pressed to find one. Now at 22 years old and transferring from Fresno State to Seton Hall his story is far from over.

BraedenCANADIAN GEM

Anderson is one of six siblings who was raised by his mother in Okotoks, Alberta. 11 miles from Calgary, after picking up his first basketball in the eighth grade and against all odds, Anderson became a late blooming prospect. A rapid rise that saw him rated as a top five prospect in Canada by the time his senior season rolled around.

Anderson was such a hot commodity that in April of 2011 he pledged allegiance to the Kansas Jayhawks over the likes of Kentucky and Arizona among others. An opportunity to further his development under Jayhawks big man coach Danny Manning was a driving force behind his decision.

JAYHAWKS JUMBLE

However dreams of being a player at Kansas were shattered in September of 2011. NCAA deemed Anderson a partial qualifier. While many media pundits publically criticized his AAU coach and mentor Ro Russell for the setback, Anderson until this day remains grateful for the opportunities and support that Russell has provided along the way, 

“Its water under the bridge. He’s a good guy who helped me. He’s helped a ton of kids and he’s still trying to help me right now which I think says a lot about him. He’s still right there in my corner.” Anderson said about Russell. “Bottom line is with out going south I would never be where I am today, playing division 1 basketball with a free education”.

HONOR ROLL

Anderson is no ordinary prospect. His combination of brains and brawn has been evident through his grades at both secondary and post secondary school. In his senior season Anderson attended Wilbraham and Monson Academy, a prep school in Massachusetts with a strong academic reputation and earned all A’s and B’s. He also scored a 1450 on his SAT.

FRESNO FIASCO

Fast forward to October 2011,  Anderson took his talents to Fresno State instead of committing to two years at a junior college. The whole Kansas ordeal was just a small hiccup of adversity compared to what was in store for Anderson on the west coast.

In his freshman season at Fresno State he played in only 10 games, including seven starts. On the season, he averaged 4.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3 assists per game while logging an average of 17.5 minutes per contest. Not overwhelming stats in his frosh campaign, but optimism arose entering his sophomore season when Anderson was expected to be a major piece of the team with the departure of Robert Upshaw.

THE CRASH

Ahead of his sophomore season on September 3rd of 2013, Anderson in Fresno was involved in a serious car accident and almost lost it all. Literally escaped death.  The car accident left him with a displacement of his C-5 through C-6 vertebrae. Luckily for Anderson no damage was done to his spinal cord but the effects of the accident left him unable to swallow or eat for nearly two months. He spent nearly a month at Stanford hospital, where he was operated on by world renowned orthopedic surgeon, Gene Caragee. Yes, the same Gene Caragee who performed Peyton Mannings neck surgery. 

“I should have died, at best been a paraplegic. It was an absolutely insane accident and I have no problems with people knowing it.  I’m lucky and blessed that I was young, able to heal, and that my bones and muscles around my neck were able to withstand what happened.” Anderson recalled.

ROAD TO RECOVERY

Braeden Anderson

During the semester with his neck injury, Anderson still finished with a 4.0 GPA. He leaves Fresno State this spring with a 3.6 GPA in addition to graduating as a sophomore with a degree in Forensic Behavioral Science. Equally amazing as his academic accolades is that Anderson is now fully recovered and back in basketball mode, not easy and amazing to say the least.

“It was a self motivated effort in doing what I needed to do. It was very painful and hard, doing a lot of rehab and all that stuff that goes into recovering from such a serious injury. But it was a long haul to get back to this point.”

ANDERSONBOKKSAmbitious and determined, when asked about his underlined defining purpose for persevering Anderson acknowledged that it stems from his mother and siblings,

“The reason I keep fighting and don’t take no for an answer is them. It’s not for myself or anything else but for them.” Anderson said about his five younger siblings and single mother.

NEW JOURNEY IN NEW JERSEY

With a secure spot at Seton Hall to study law, Anderson now has a sense of urgency to make the most of his ability in the Big East.

At 23 years old with two years of eligibility the scouting report among NCAA insiders is that Anderson is a rugged veteran, true banger, and interior defender with a solid right hook and up and under. Discipline, head strong, and playing hard are also adjectives attached to Anderson’s game. Expect Seton Hall to get an effective forward with a great head on his shoulder who can also knock down the 15-footer and is a capable of being a knowledgeable veteran big man for the Pirates.

No Canadian basketball player has endured similar peaks and valleys in his career as Anderson has. Nor has a student-athlete ever done what Anderson is on the path to doing. Seton Hall stepped up with a willingness to accommodate Andersons desire to study law and it will also provide an environment for him to meet his D1 basketball commitments.

Most astonishing is Anderson just won’t back down from obstacles and gets a satisfaction from being tested and always defeating the test. Now for the kid from Okotoks, Alberta the battle tested Braeden Anderson is looking forward to starting a new chapter in his natural habitat.

“No more excuses, I have to handle my business on and off the court. It’s really the biggest year of my life right now. I’m not a kid anymore and I’m in a great situation so its all business.”

Anderson will now have a legitimate chance to demonstrate the potential that once had Bill Self and John Calipari chasing his signature.

Meanwhile back home Canadians will be cheering coast to coast for Attorney Anderson to represent Canadian ballers in the big east. His incredible journey continues…