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The Texas Tech basketball team announced Tuesday that Christian Anderson Jr. will be returning to the Red Raiders for his sophomore season.
Rather than announce his return himself, Anderson let Texas Tech do the honors with a news release in the afternoon. Anderson is the first confirmed piece for coach Grant McCasland's 2025-26 roster with plenty more moves to follow.
Anderson was hurt before his freshman season could officially begin, missing the first two games of the regular season. He made his debut against Wyoming, sinking a 3-pointer on his first collegiate shot attempt. It was off to the races from there.
UP TO DATE: Texas Tech basketball transfer portal tracker: Who's in, who's out for Red Raiders in 2025?
The 6-foot-2 guard out of Atlanta earned Big 12 All-Freshman honors in which he finished fourth on the team in scoring (10.6 points per game), was third in assists and tied Chance McMillian with a team-high 71 made 3s, hitting 38% of his attempts from downtown. He earned seven starts in his freshman campaign, including all four of Texas Tech's games in the NCAA Tournament, which ended in the Elite Eight to eventual national champion Florida.
In the comeback win over Arkansas in the Sweet 16, Anderson scored 22 points, including several key 3-pointers in helping the Red Raiders overcome a 16-point deficit for the win.
MORE ON ANDERSON: How Christian Anderson carved out role for a Texas Tech basketball team with Final Four dreams
Anderson's return to Texas Tech for his sophomore season is crucial on multiple levels. First, it gives the Red Raiders a proven commodity who knows the coaching staff and can run the offense. Anderson also spent plenty of time playing the off-guard spot alongside Elijah Hawkins, so he's capable of occupying other positions on the floor, giving McCasland and the rest of the staff options of how to form the team around him.
While Anderson's shot betrayed him during March Madness, he still showed a willingness to fire away. That confidence came through with the freshman hitting clutch buckets in the team's first three tournament wins over UNC Wilmington, Drake and Arkansas.
It's not yet known who else could be returning alongside Anderson, but both Darrion Williams, who is reportedly declaring for the NBA Draft and hitting the transfer portal (as he should to keep all options on the table, and JT Toppin, who could take the similar approach as Williams, each played well alongside Anderson, especially in the pick-and-roll game at the top of the key. Anderson's a scoring guard but also had some excellent passes into the post for easy buckets.
Anderson also dramatically improved as a defender throughout the year, being assigned at different times to guard West Virginia's Javon Small, Arizona's Caleb Love and Florida's Walter Clayton Jr. He'll need to get a bit stronger, as any freshman would. Still, his instincts and ability to fly around the floor were huge benefits late in the season.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Christian Anderson Jr. to return to Texas Tech basketball in 2025-26
Continue reading...
Rather than announce his return himself, Anderson let Texas Tech do the honors with a news release in the afternoon. Anderson is the first confirmed piece for coach Grant McCasland's 2025-26 roster with plenty more moves to follow.
Anderson was hurt before his freshman season could officially begin, missing the first two games of the regular season. He made his debut against Wyoming, sinking a 3-pointer on his first collegiate shot attempt. It was off to the races from there.
UP TO DATE: Texas Tech basketball transfer portal tracker: Who's in, who's out for Red Raiders in 2025?
The 6-foot-2 guard out of Atlanta earned Big 12 All-Freshman honors in which he finished fourth on the team in scoring (10.6 points per game), was third in assists and tied Chance McMillian with a team-high 71 made 3s, hitting 38% of his attempts from downtown. He earned seven starts in his freshman campaign, including all four of Texas Tech's games in the NCAA Tournament, which ended in the Elite Eight to eventual national champion Florida.
In the comeback win over Arkansas in the Sweet 16, Anderson scored 22 points, including several key 3-pointers in helping the Red Raiders overcome a 16-point deficit for the win.
MORE ON ANDERSON: How Christian Anderson carved out role for a Texas Tech basketball team with Final Four dreams
What Christian Anderson's return to Texas Tech basketball means for the Red Raiders
Anderson's return to Texas Tech for his sophomore season is crucial on multiple levels. First, it gives the Red Raiders a proven commodity who knows the coaching staff and can run the offense. Anderson also spent plenty of time playing the off-guard spot alongside Elijah Hawkins, so he's capable of occupying other positions on the floor, giving McCasland and the rest of the staff options of how to form the team around him.
While Anderson's shot betrayed him during March Madness, he still showed a willingness to fire away. That confidence came through with the freshman hitting clutch buckets in the team's first three tournament wins over UNC Wilmington, Drake and Arkansas.
It's not yet known who else could be returning alongside Anderson, but both Darrion Williams, who is reportedly declaring for the NBA Draft and hitting the transfer portal (as he should to keep all options on the table, and JT Toppin, who could take the similar approach as Williams, each played well alongside Anderson, especially in the pick-and-roll game at the top of the key. Anderson's a scoring guard but also had some excellent passes into the post for easy buckets.
Anderson also dramatically improved as a defender throughout the year, being assigned at different times to guard West Virginia's Javon Small, Arizona's Caleb Love and Florida's Walter Clayton Jr. He'll need to get a bit stronger, as any freshman would. Still, his instincts and ability to fly around the floor were huge benefits late in the season.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Christian Anderson Jr. to return to Texas Tech basketball in 2025-26
Continue reading...
