Congratulations Evan Anderson

Making a decision on which college to attend is a difficult one for just about any high school student.  Imagine the pressure on a 7th grader and his folks when Division 1 college programs start sending letters and phoning the house.  That's right...the recruiting of Evan Anderson by college programs started in the 7th grade.   Not coincidentally, the media attention followed soon afterward.   Beyond the stories on TV and in the newspaper, the life of Evan was a hot topic on internet message boards.  Just how tall is he?  How good is he?   Is he transferring from Stanley-Boyd?  To which school?   More recently, which colleges are recruiting him?  Will he be an impact player?   Which school has the inside track?   

I don't know Evan all that well, since he's still a high school sophomore, but everything I've seen and heard is that he's a fairly grounded 16-year old, a hard worker, very coachable, and an excellent student.  His approach on the court is very businesslike; he's not the kind to draw attention to himself with gestures or trash-talking.  Evan is the kind of kid who'll battle hard inside but will be the first to extend a hand when an opponent lands on the floor.   Talking to him Sunday night about his decision, it sounds like he went about the process in the right way--getting a lot of input from wide range of sources, and then going with his gut.   That's what led him to the Wisconsin Badgers program.

Evan seemed more relieved than elated about his decision, which probably had more to do with the fact that he'd just driven back from an AAU basketball tournament in Fort Wayne, Indiana.   I'll always remember the looks on his mom & dad's faces...another mix of pride, relief, and amazement...I can only imagine what they were thinking watching their son being interviewed by members of the Eau Claire media...my guess is that they both thought back to that day when they brought a son into the world, and how that son has grown over 16 years.

With this decision made, Evan may get a bit of a reprieve from all the attention...until next season starts, and the internet message boards can start heating up again with people debating his progress on the basketball court.  I support every person's right to express their opinion on a topic, but let's remember he's a 16-year old kid.   I would certainly hope he has a successful finish to his high school basketball career, then becomes a Big Ten standout with a shot to play professionally.   If that never happens, that's okay, too.   It's far more important to society that he gets a college education and continues to grow as a person, a teammate, and a citizen.

I think that would make his parents extremely proud.

-BOB BRADOVICH