Justin Anderson is the 35th best high school basketball player in the United States in the class of 2012 according to Rivals.com.
The four-star prospect verbally committed to Maryland, but after long-time Terrapin head coach Gary Williams retired, Anderson switched his pledge. He'll play at UVA next season after committing to Virginia in May.
Montrose Christian High School head boys basketball coach Stu Vetter said, "He's one of the best athletes I've ever coached. He's flat out one of the best athletes right now in the country at any level."
Anderson dunked a basketball for the first time in fifth grade.
"I went up and slammed it one time in the auxiliary gym at the school," said Anderson. "I think from then, I really realized maybe I can be really good at this."
In eighth grade, the Fredericksburg native got a call from Vetter. The legendary coach wanted Anderson to play for the Mustangs in Rockville, Maryland.
Anderson accepted the invitation to move over 60 miles from home, live in a basketball house with other out-of-state and foreign players at Montrose, and play for Vetter, the two-time USA Today National Coach of the Year who's won over 850 games in over 35 years on the bench, coaching over 100 Division I players and eight NBA players.
Anderson said, "At the time, I think I was young, and I didn't understand, but making that decision was tough, but in the long run, I think it paid off. I became a better player."
Vetter said, "He was on the varsity as a freshman, which is almost unheard of at Montrose, and he's played every year with outstanding players. Those players have gotten better from playing with him, and he's gotten better from playing with them."
Anderson said, "Being able to play against elite athletes every single night here at Montrose Christian, so it's a great experience, but I can't wait to move on to UVA."
At 6'7" and 220 pounds, the left-hander looks forward to playing for Cavalier head coach Tony Bennett in a conference he's always dreamed of playing in.
Anderson said, "Just being able to compete every single game in the ACC. That's a conference that America loves, and I want to be able to be a part of that somehow and contribute in some way for UVA to continue to win."
Bennett said, "My hope is that he'll bring some great leadership. Certainly, he has the athleticism, but I think he's become a better basketball player, his skills and his feel, over the last year, and I think that's important. As that part of his game continues to evolve, I think obviously he has a bright future."
Anderson said, "Whenever you're playing for your coach and not the last name on the back of your uniform, it's always great, and I can't wait to play for Coach Bennett."
Anderson's prep basketball career includes making the Under-16 USA Basketball Team in 2009, helping Montrose win its first ever national championship last season, playing in the National Basketball Players Association Top 100 camp in Charlottesville last summer, and playing on ESPN in December, leading the fourth ranked team in the country as a senior.
And he has big plans for his future at UVA.
Anderson said, "Help that team win maybe an ACC Championship or an NCAA Championship. I know it's a lot to ask for, but you have to dream big in order to win big, so I want to dream for those championships."
Vetter said, "Next year, when he goes up for an alley-oop at John Paul Jones Arena, the place is going to go wild, because he's an athlete that you don't experience very often as a coach. He's very similar to another player we had here years ago, Greivis Vasquez. He brought an energy to the Maryland program that they didn't have. I look for Justin Anderson to bring energy to the UVA program. He's excited about the opportunity to come to UVA, and I think the fans there should be very excited about Justin Anderson."
Justin's brother, sister, and father all played basketball, and his mom was a basketball cheerleader. Justin called his family a "basketball family."
Rivals.com ranks Anderson the ninth-best small forward in the country. ESPN ranks Anderson the 55th best player in America. Scout has Anderson at #58 as the #12 small forward in the nation.
Anderson and Montrose Christian are 18-2 this season with two regular season games to play this week before the National High School Invitational at Trinity University February 25-26. The National High School Championships are March 28-30 on ESPN.
