A look at new Arizona Wildcats player Ryan Anderson while at Boston College

Ryan Anderson figures to step in and fill Brandon Ashley’s role in 2015 (YouTube video capture)

Arizona is halfway complete with its effort to fill potential openings of its 2015-16 roster with the announcement tonight that Boston College forward Ryan Anderson will transfer to Sean Miller’s program.

The Wildcats may lose as many as six players (maybe more) after next season: point guard T.J. McConnell, power forward Matt Korcheck, power forward Brandon Ashley, center Kaleb Tarczewski, shooting guard Stanley Johnson and small forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. McConnell and Korcheck will exhaust their eligibility and Ashley, Tarczewski, Hollis-Jefferson and Johnson figure to enter the NBA draft.

Miller and his staff need to fill three more of those spots after receiving commitments from Anderson and guards Tyler Dorsey of Los Angeles and Justin Simon of Temecula, Calif.

Dorsey and Simon, five-star prospects, are two of the best players from California. Anderson is also from California (Lakewood). Anderson chose to play for Boston College instead of sign with Colorado, Washington State, San Diego State and Northwestern out of Long Beach (Calif.) Poly High School in 2011.

How good is Anderson (6’8″ and 219 pounds)?

He scored 22 points against national champion Connecticut in a 72-70 loss at Madison Square Garden last Nov. 21 in the 2K Sports Classic. Arizona fans will love this: He made all 11 of his free-throw attempts in that game.

In the following day, Anderson posted 18 points and seven rebounds in an 89-78 win over Washington. He made 7 of his 11 field-goal attempts.

Anderson had five double-doubles, including an 11-point, 12-rebound performance in an 82-71 loss at North Carolina on Jan. 18.

In Boston College’s 62-59 overtime upset win over No. 1 Syracuse on Feb. 19, Anderson tallied a game-high 14 rebounds with nine points. He pulled down the Eagles’ first six rebounds in the game, setting the tone for the upset.

Anderson played mostly at the post for Boston College despite his size — 219 pounds is more suited for a wing player. In his sophomore and junior seasons combined , Anderson attempted only 29 three-pointers (making only seven) after trying 84 as a freshman. He made only 29 of those for a percentage of 27.4. He figures to play power forward for Arizona similar to Ashley (often extending the defense with mid-range jumpers).

Tyler Dorsey was the first Class of 2015 recruit to commit to Arizona (YouTube video capture)

Justin Simon is a Class of 2015 guard who committed to Arizona earlier this week (YouTube video capture)

Former Boston College coach Steve Donahue used Anderson at the post in the hopes it created a mismatch with his speed and athleticism to his favor.

“Ryan Anderson at the five is a hard matchup,” Donahue told CBSSports.com before last season.”Especially now. He’s older, he’s stronger, he’s quicker. He’s way more athletic than he was. To add that piece and then to spread it around to four guys, that should really help us.”

Anderson’s shooting percentages from the field have increased year by year. He improved from 43.3 percent from the field as a freshman to 47.6 percent as a sophomore to 48.9 percent last year.

ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He also writes articles for Bleacher Report and Lindy’s College Sports.

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