Southeast Missouri State freshman leaves basketball program, plans to declare for NBA Draft

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball program isn't one that players flock to thinking it'll up their chances to move on to the next level rapidly. But the one-and-done phenomenon that has become common at the major basketball level has made its way to Cape Girardeau.

On Monday morning, the Southeast athletics department announced freshman forward Tony Anderson's departure from the program with plans to declare for the NBA Draft following just one season as a Redhawk.

"Well, I had the intention of going to the NBA after my freshman year for a while now, it was nothing to do with SEMO," Anderson said in a text message. "I feel this is the best option for me right now simply because, this is the plan that God has given me for my life."

The news comes about a week after Southeast concluded its first season under coach Rick Ray. The Redhawks lost their final eight contests and finished with a record of 5-24 and 2-14 in the Ohio Valley Conference. Their failure to make the eight-team conference tournament snapped a stretch of five consecutive OVC tourney appearances.

Anderson said he informed Ray of his decision on Feb. 28, the day after an 83-75 loss to eight-seed and OVC tournament champion Austin Peay in Southeast's season finale and the final game of Anderson's freshman campaign and collegiate career.

According to a press release, Anderson has withdrawn from classes and plans to hire an agent.

The 6-foot-9 Anderson made three starts and played in 29 games as a true freshman, averaging 14.7 minutes.

He averaged 5.0 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. He scored in double figures five times, including a career-high 17 against Jacksonville State on Jan. 13.

He shot 40.8 percent from the field on the season and made 7 of 20 3-point attempts. He was a 74.5 percent free-throw shooter.

"Besides hearing from God on this decision, I have complete confidence in myself of playing in the NBA and I know I can play with the best," Anderson said in a text message. "And quite frankly, that's the only thing that I needed to make this decision."

Anderson verbally committed to play for Ray on May 10, 2015, about a month after he was hired as the Redhawks' coach, and the signing of his National Letter of Intent was announced five days later.

Anderson spent his first two years of high school at Marion-Franklin HS in Columbus, Ohio, before attending Oak Hill Academy in Virginia as a junior. Oak Hill alumni include alumni such as the NBA's Carmelo Anthony and Rajon Rondo. Anderson concluded his high school career at Groveport Madison in Columbus, Ohio.

Anderson had previously committed to Toledo on April 3, 2015, but decommitted 10 days later.

"I want to thank Southeast Missouri State University for a great college experience these past several months," Anderson said in a release. "I also want to thank Coach Ray and the basketball program for a great freshman season. God has a plan for my life and through faith I'm dedicated to fulfill his purpose for my life."

According to the press release, Ray and Southeast administrators discussed the decision with Anderson, including that "hiring an agent revokes his amateur status forever."

"Tony was an exemplary student-athlete," Ray said in a release. "He did a tremendous job in the classroom and is a very responsible young man. Tony had the potential to become a really good player at Southeast and in the Ohio Valley Conference. My conversations with Tony and his support group were squarely focused on them understanding the implications of withdrawing from school and hiring an agent."

Anderson leaving the university will affect Southeast's Academic Progress Rate. According to the NCAA's website, APR "holds institutions accountable for the academic progress of their student-athletes through a team-based metric that accounts for the eligibility and retention of each student-athlete for each academic term."

Teams can be penalized for not reaching certain academic standards set as well as rewarded for meeting certain marks. APR results are announced each spring.

"Obviously, I wanted Tony to be a part of our program, but that was secondary as we are truly concerned about his future even if it is not here at Southeast," Ray said. "We wish Tony the best and hope that this decision works out for him."