Tulsa World: OSU's Anderson is out of his shell and shining

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OSU's Anderson is out of his shell and shining

Oklahoma State guard James Anderson drives to the goal in the first half of the Cowboys' 82-68 win over North Texas on Saturday Nov. 21, 2009. Zach Gray for the Tulsa World

By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
Published: 11/24/2009 2:20 AM
Last Modified: 11/24/2009 7:10 AM

STILLWATER — James Anderson launched his college basketball career by scoring 29 points — most ever by an Oklahoma State freshman in a season opener — against Prairie View A&M in 2007.

Anderson will face Prairie View again Tuesday night at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Potential bad news for the Panthers: Anderson isn't the same player he was back in '07.

"No, I'm afraid not," Anderson said. "I still had the whole high school game. I think I have developed more and my game is more mature."

Anderson is averaging a Big 12-best 25.7 points per game. OSU's single-season scoring record is 24.2 points, established by Ed Odom as a senior in 1979-80.

Anderson often settled for 3-point shots during his freshman season. Now he attacks the rim and is more aggressive than ever. That's the way coach Travis Ford wants it.

Ford said he summoned Anderson to the coaches' dressing room before a game midway through last season's conference schedule and told Anderson, "I need you to get 20 shots tonight."

Anderson reacted in a manner consistent with his shy and unselfish demeanor. So Ford said, "No, really. When you catch it, I want you to go score. Shoot it. Drive it. I don't care what you do, but you need to shoot at least 20 shots tonight."

Ford said Anderson has averaged about 25 points a game since.

Anderson also has come out of his shell in other ways. He actually speaks on the court.

"A guy who would never talk is gathering huddles and telling guys where to go," Marshall Moses said. "And when guys are messing up, he's yelling at people."

Moses said he was shocked the first time Anderson yelled at him. "I was like, whoa, are you talking to me?"

But Moses has no problem with being barked at by Anderson.

"We're the same age, but I told him (Friday) in the locker room and I told our team James is one of those guys I'll never question (and) I'll never talk back to," Moses said. "I may even be older than him. I don't know the age difference. I just have that much respect for him. The same respect that I had for Byron (Eaton) last year, that's how I look at James this year. I think that's the difference."

Anderson said he was vocal when he was the leader of his high school team and indicated that he spoke up at OSU in past seasons more than people realize. But Ford said Anderson's development as a leader has been a progression.

When Anderson chose to return to OSU for his junior season rather than enter the NBA Draft, Ford told Anderson he would be a captain and said it's a captain's duty to speak up more often.

Ford needed Anderson to be a leader because OSU lost senior leaders last season and because teammates respect Anderson.

"When your best player can be a leader as well and speak up and hold guys accountable, that's a great scenario for you," Ford said. "And he's embracing it. He's talking so much more than when he first got here, it's like he's not the same person. But he can still go to another level."

Jimmie Tramel 581-8389
jimmie.tramel@tulsaworld.com By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer

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