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UConn Basketball: Grad transfer Antwoine Anderson commits to Huskies

By Carmine Carcieri

Jan 3, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; George Washington Colonials guard Patricio Garino (13) blocks the shot by Fordham Rams guard Antwoine Anderson (0) during the second half at Charles E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; George Washington Colonials guard Patricio Garino (13) blocks the shot by Fordham Rams guard Antwoine Anderson (0) during the second half at Charles E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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After losing multiple pieces to the transfer market, UConn basketball reeled in Fordham grad transfer Antwoine Anderson this weekend.

With multiple open scholarships available after losing three players to the transfer market, the UConn Huskies landed graduate transfer point guard Antwoine Anderson this weekend.

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Anderson will be immediately eligible in 2017-18 and will provide the Huskies with another capable ball handler on the perimeter.

Anderson, a 6’1″, 190-pound guard from Rochester, NY, played three years at Fordham, holding a large role over the last two seasons.

During his freshman campaign, Anderson averaged 4.6 points in just under 20 minutes per game. In year two though, the point guard not only increased his minutes to 25 per game but his scoring average (up to 8.3 points). He also shot a highly efficient 46 percent from the field and a decent 32 percent from beyond the arc.

Anderson took his game to the next level in 2016-17 as he started and averaged 11.1 points, 3.2 assists, and 2.0 rebounds in 34 minutes per game. He also shot 41 percent from the field, 34 percent from three and a career-high 69 percent from the free throw line. Add in a buzzer beater in a home win over VCU and his top notch defense (1.7 steals per game), and Anderson clearly had the best season of his three-year college career.

UConn is hoping that he can carry over that success to Storrs as the Huskies desperately need help in the backcourt. Beyond Jalen Adams and Christian Vital, UConn has unknowns at both the lead guard and shooting guard positions. Alterique Gilbert is coming off of a serious shoulder injury that required surgery and the Huskies don’t have the services of Rodney Purvis or Makai Ashton-Langford anymore, so adding Anderson will give the team depth and experience at either guard position. While he hasn’t participated in any notable postseason games in his career, Anderson only averaged 2.3 turnovers in 2016-17 and has the motor to be a factor from the get-go for the Huskies.

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This addition is not going to give UConn a leg up on SMU, Cincinnati, Wichita State or Houston in the AAC (they are clearly behind all four of these teams), but it gives the Huskies a solid replacement for Ashton-Langford in 2017-18. While Anderson will be with the program for only one season, Kevin Ollie has another guard to work with (his bread-and-butter) in order to help the Huskies get back to the NCAA Tournament in 2018.