College Commitment: Alphonso Anderson (2016 Garfield HS/North Idaho College)

The last time we really saw Alphonso Anderson on the basketball court, it was back at Garfield High School in 2016. It's been quite the journey for the versatile 6-foot-7 swingman since then. This fall, he'll be suiting up at North Idaho College and then next season he's already gotten things figured out as Anderson announced late last week on his birthday that he'll be signing with Utah State.

"It just seemed like the best fit," Anderson said. "The coaches and the system fit my playing style and it's a great conference, the Mountain West. I'm just excited to be going there."

Anderson made the commitment to Utah State after making an official visit to campus. He noted that the prior staff under Tim Duryea had offered him a scholarship out of high school, but the relationship was restored after the current coaches saw him at a North Idaho open gym. Idaho and Portland State had also offered and other programs indicated they'd watch him during the season as well, but Anderson saw no reason to wait.

"I hadn't played in two years so a lot of schools didn't know where I was at, so this season I could have waited it out and got some bigger schools," Anderson said. "But I feel like the right fit came so that's why I chose Utah State."

The journey has been winding for Anderson. Out of Garfield, he had signed with Montana and redshirted his freshman season there due to a torn meniscus in his knee. Unfortunately he didn't even get cleared to practice and the relationship between Anderson and the program unfortunately fell apart, which led to Anderson leaving. He resurfaced at Moberly Area College in Missouri, but got hurt again at the very first practice. Limited by injury, he was able to get into ten games and averaged 2.3 points and 1.4 rebounds in sparse minutes before Christmas break.

It was then that Anderson decided to stay close to home and transferred to North Idaho for the second semester and he's been there ever since. He'll be there in the 2018-19 season and he's excited about the upcoming year, which just started off this past weekend at the Rocky Mountain Jamboree in Colorado.

"It was big time - I played well and our team went 5-0," Anderson said. "They've put us pre-season #18 but I think we're a top 10 team in the country. I'm fully healthy and I don't have any problems with my knee anymore and I'm excited to be back on the court."

For Anderson, the future is bright - and with his Division I college commitment done, he's ready to move forward. "I want to prove to everybody that I'm back - that's the big thing. I had people asking me if I was still playing basketball and people had forgotten about me, so I just want to put my name back on the map and make my family proud."