One season into what he hopes is a long career on the sideline as a coach, Antonio Anderson is having a blast.
A defensive standout for coach John Calipari at the University of Memphis, the 6-foot-6 Anderson netted 1,000 career points before graduating in 2009.
The 29-year-old Lynn native is in his first year as assistant to head coach Matt LeVangie at Wheelock College, a Division 3 program in Boston.
“I love it,” Anderson said. “I think this is what I was meant to do. I’m really into it and really enjoying it. I love helping the kids out and giving them some of the knowledge I learned from my time playing. I think it can be beneficial for them.”
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Basketball has taken Anderson a long way.
In 2002, he led Lynn Tech to the Division 3 state championship. After his junior season, he left for one prep year at Maine Central Institute, followed by one season at Laurinburg (N.C.) Prep, which went 40-0 in 2004-05 and won the national prep championship.
Then it was off to Memphis, to join Coach Cal.
The Tigers advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament each of his four seasons, and in his junior year went 38-2 and lost the national title game to Kansas in overtime.
“That’s an experience a kid gets once in a lifetime, and me being a kid from Lynn of all places,” Anderson said. “I’ve got that experience to tell kids about, who are growing up now in high school and middle school. The kids know me and know where I’m from and I’m proud of where I’m from.”
In high school and prep school, Anderson was a prolific scorer. In college, he was a dogged defender.
“Not too many plays got called for me in my four years in college, but I had my opportunities to score,” he said.
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“I knew I had that ability, but I really embraced my defensive role. We had guys who could score at will. Let them do that and I did the other things. I was a physical player and I wanted to be in someone’s face. Defense is a pride thing for me. I took so much pride in it. I didn’t want to let my team down or the school down. Especially on TV, I was representing Lynn and was representing Massachusetts. I didn’t want to come home in the summer and hear, ‘That guy killed you in that game.’ I took pride in my defense.”
Anderson, who received his degree in liberal studies, played professionally for several years with stints in the NBA Development League, including time as captain of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and Maine Red Claws.
Just over a year ago, he was having trouble with his hearing and discovered he needed cochlear implant surgery. Anderson pursued coaching and landed with LeVangie at Wheelock.
“It’s been a blessing,” said Anderson, who also works at the Community Providers of Adolescent Services school in Dorchester.
“I’m learning different aspects of the college game and teaching the guys what I learned about how to play the game. Coach Cal taught us that whatever’s going on, never quit, never give up. Whatever the situation is, there’s always a way out of it. That’s what I plan to do. My plan is to be a head coach in college one day and I’m going to go for it.”
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Allen Lessels can be reached at lessfam321@gmail.com.