FLINT, Michigan — It’s becoming clear that if Mott’s flyboy freshman Doug Anderson wasn’t such a phenomenal dunker, he’d probably be known as a pretty good all-around basketball player.
Coming into tonight’s 7:30 p.m. matchup at home versus (14-3) St. Clair, Anderson has arguably become Mott’s most valuable player.
Lost in the all the hype about his ability to leap like pretty much no one we’ve ever seen are the numbers: Currently, Anderson leads Mott in scoring (14.8 ppg) and steals (2.1 spg) and is third in rebounds (6.1 rpg).
Anderson leads the team in 3-point efficiency, having connected on 7 of his 16 attempts this season. He is fourth in free throw accuracy (70%) and tied for the team lead with in overall field goal percentage (58%) with sophomore forward Torian Oglesby
The numbers are in line with Mott head coach Steve Schmidt’s insistence that Anderson will leave Flint prepared for the next level, and is already making strides.
“(Anderson) was a pretty good dunker when he got here, but he’s becoming a much better basketball player,” Schmidt said after Mott’s win over South Suburban (Illinois) earlier this season. “I promised him he’d be a better player when he leaves here.”
Anderson, who came to Mott by way of Kalamazoo Central High School, primarily played the post for the Maroon Giants. In his team’s loss in the state championship game against Detroit Pershing last March, Anderson did more than hold his own against 6-9 (and 300-pound) MSU freshman behemoth Derrick Nix
At Mott, Anderson must learn how to defend guards and small forwards, something he wasn’t called upon to do all that much in high school. It’s a work in progress, to be sure, but Schmidt may never get a player with Anderson’s raw talent, so in this endeavor he cannot fail.
“I think Doug has really improved in all facets of his game,” Schmidt said. “My objective was to help him develop and work to become a complete player. We still have a way to go, but I believe he will continue to improve and I guarantee that my staff and me will continue to push him relentlessly to develop. We need him to bring energy at all times and work to become more consistent. I have enjoyed being part of his development as a complete basketball player. He’s been very coachable.”
Anderson and the Bears, also 14-3 on the season, welcome the Skippers into the Steve Schmidt Gymnasium tonight for what should be Mott’s biggest crowd of the season thanks, at least in part, to the four Flint-area players on St. Clair’s roster — Kieon Arkwright, Terrance Keaton, and Alan Sharp, all of Flint C-A and Flint Southwestern’s Brandon Thompson
The Doug Anderson File
Height: 6-5
Weight: 220
High School: Kalamazoo Central
Vertical jump: 48”
Best game at Mott: 25 points in win over South Suburban
Most dunks in one game as a Bear: 11 (Bruin Club Classic, July 2009)
Fun Fact: In high school, Anderson won the slam dunk contest at the Adidas 5-star camp. He beat out University of North Carolina freshman Dexter Strickland for the honor.
— Jared Field