An uber-athletic guard reigning from Orange County, California, Roddie burst into the scene with strong freshman and sophomore high school seasons for Fountain Valley High School. Due to the postponement of the CIF Southern-Section high school season in 2020-2021, Roddie was among those that took advantage of the extra time to truly prepare and improve his game, while also playing against top competition in AAU as well, competition that he may not have necessarily been able to see playing for his high school team. To no discredit of his incredible skill level, he has the first-step and quick-twitch athleticism that only some are blessed to have. This certainly projects him to be a cut-above the typical basketball player, but natural gift is not what only has carried him this far. He is an extremely hard-worker, who is simply put, very skilled. One thing that Roddie has constantly improved upon throughout his high school career is his mid-range jumper in which he gets extremely good elevation. He is a true point guard with excellent vision, his unique flair to his game matched with his athleticism makes him extremely exciting to watch. I was fortunate enough to have him answer a few questions about himself.
INTERVIEW:
For those who don't know you, can you give a brief summary about who you are and where you have played at? Roddie: "I’m Roddie Anderson and I’m a 2022 point guard committed to UCSD. I played at Fountain Valley High School and Cali Rebels for AAU."
Outside of basketball, what are you passionate about? What do you spend time doing?
Roddie: "I like to spend my free time relaxing and just hanging out with my friends."
What was your recruitment process like, which schools were recruiting you the hardest?
Roddie: "My recruitment started off slow but it later started to pick up. The schools that recruited me the most was UCSD, UCR, and Cal Baptist."
You had a great season your senior year, what was that experience like for you? Roddie: "My experience this season was tough for me, having a first round exit in the playoffs sticks with you."
Which games and memories stand out to you the most from this past season?
Roddie: "My best experience this year was dropping my season high with 37 points against Edison."
Who was the toughest player or team you have played against in your career thus far?
Roddie: "No player was ever really a struggle for me this year but the guard at Loyala, number "3", he was very tough."
Who is the most talented player you have played with in your career thus far?
Roddie: "The best player I played with in AAU was Bam Johnson, he made me a better player and was my favorite player to play with."
What did you like about Cali Rebels and how have they helped you along your process?
Roddie: "Cali Rebels did so much for me and I wouldn’t be where I’m at without them."
What led you to commit to UCSD? Roddie: "What made me commit to UCSD was the loyalty they showed. They were the first to offer me. I also connected with the players and the campus."
Which player or team are you looking forward to playing against the most in college?
Roddie: "It’s a ego thing, but I’m really looking forward to playing against all the schools that passed up on me."
What was your favorite NBA team and player growing up?
Roddie: "My favorite player is Russell Westbrook and I don’t really have a favorite team, just wherever he is playing."
What are you looking to improve on and show scouts that you have improved on going into your freshman season?
Roddie: "Going into my freshman year, I’m looking forward to showing everyone my improved jump shot that I’ve been working on for months."
What is your end goal for basketball?
Roddie: "My end goal for basketball is to play professionally and to use basketball to create a better life for me in the future."
What do you think is the most valuable skill in basketball?
Roddie: "The most valuable skill in basketball is work ethic. Being physically strong is important but being able to have the mental strength to workout when you don’t want to is just as important."
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