Former Virginia stars Anderson and Harris reunited with Brooklyn Nets

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Photo: netsdaily.com

Former Virginia basketball star Justin Anderson signed a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets on Monday and was dressed and on the bench for the club’s game in Orlando.

Anderson checked in with just over a minute remaining in regulation and scored on a dunk in the closing seconds of the Nets’ 101-89 loss to the Magic.

Anderson, a guard/forward, came to Brooklyn from the Toronto Raptors’ G League team, where he had started 13 games. During that span, the 6-foot-5 native of Montross, Va., averaged 21.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.2 steals in almost 34 minutes per game.

After leaving UVA prior to his senior season, Anderson played four seasons with the Dallas Mavericks (2015-17), Philadelphia 76ers (2017-18), and Atlanta (2018-19). During those four years he played in 216 games, averaging 5.3 points and 2.6 rebounds over his career, while averaging 13.2 minutes per game.

Wahoo fans will remember Anderson’s incredible athletic ability during three seasons in which he helped transform the Cavaliers into one of the ACC’s premiere basketball programs. He was the 21st pick of the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft by the Mavericks, coached by former UVA player Rick Carlisle. Anderson actually came to Virginia after decommitting from Maryland when Gary Williams decided to retire.

As a Cavalier, Anderson was third-team All-America by the NBCA and an All-ACC second-teamer as a junior. He was ACC Sixth Man of the Year as a sophomore.

In Brooklyn, Anderson will be reunited with Joe Harris, a former star teammate at Virginia, another key figure in making the Cavaliers an ACC champion. The Nets have 17 players on their roster. Harris, who scored a team-high 16 points (3 for 7 from deep) against Orlando, has developed into one of the premiere 3-point shooters in the league.