Braeden Anderson, a top-50 power forward who wasn't able to attend Kansas as a partial qualifier, will go to Fresno State instead and look to become eligible next season, according to the Lawrence Journal-World.
"I did not want to commit to two years at a junior college," said Anderson, who would have needed a juco degree to qualify for a two-year career at KU. "Fresno is a really good fit for me. I really like the coaches there. I’m a West Coast kid at heart. I have a ton of family in California -- a lot of cousins."
Of course, he’s depressed that he’s unable to play at his first choice, KU.
"My ultimate goal is the NBA. Before that, my ultimate goal was to make a high-major Div. I school. In my mind, I made it there," Anderson said of attaining an offer from Kansas. "Kansas is where I wanted to go. I would have picked Kansas over any school in the country. I love all the people there. My heart will always be in Kansas. I’ll always have a really soft spot for Lawrence and the people there."
The addition of Anderson for Fresno State would be a big shot in the arm, as coach Rodney Terry is getting off to a good start with rebuilding the program. The former Texas assistant made his name recruiting out of Canada, and the Alberta native Anderson gives the Bulldogs the 2011 Mr. Canada Basketball award winner.
Fresno State will have to raise its talent level, because this is its final season in the WAC before leaving for the Mountain West. Rather than help replace the Morris twins at Kansas, the 6-foot-9 Anderson will now head to a program that could make him the face of a new era.