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Ryan Anderson is rejoining the Arizona men’s basketball program as a graduate assistant on Tommy Lloyd’s staff after retiring as a professional player.
Anderson played one season (2015-16) with Arizona as a redshirt senior transfer from Boston College. Anderson averaged 15.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game that year, becoming the first Arizona player since Jordan Hill in 2008-09 to average a double-double for an entire season.
I have officially retired from the game of basketball and will be joining the @ArizonaMBB staff! Thank you coach Lloyd for the opportunity
— Ryan Anderson (@M12terAnderson) September 4, 2021
After graduating, the Long Beach native played three seasons internationally, but his pro career was derailed last fall when he suffered a severe knee injury playing for BC Siauliai in Lithuania.
Anderson had been averaging 14.7 points and 8.7 rebounds for the club until the injury.
Terrible news for BC Siauliai, as Ryan Anderson looks to have sustained a very serious knee injury just 25 seconds into their game vs CBet Prienai.
— Rob Karaznevic (@dogtheballer) October 4, 2020
Anderson was one of team leaders up to this point, averaging 14,7 PTS and 8,7 REB.
Get well soon, Ryan!@betsafeLKL
Anderson moved back to Los Angeles to rehabilitate and also bought a home in Tucson last spring, according to Bruce Pascoe of the Arizona Daily Star.
Anderson told Bruce that Lloyd and UA assistant coach Jack Murphy reached out to him about the joining the staff as a GA, which led Anderson to get reingratiated with the program over the summer.
Anderson is attending classes at UA and was recently accepted to the Eller College of Management.