UCLA’s Kyle Anderson is the Best Passer in the Country

Anderson

Jayne Kamin-Oncea- USA TODAY Sports

10 points and seven assists in the first half skyrocketed the UCLA Bruins over the Northwestern Wildcats late Friday night. Those points and assists were delivered by sophomore stud, Kyle Anderson.

The passes that Anderson threw to his teammates were on time and smart, making him the best passer in the country. At 6-foot-9, Anderson can see over smaller point guards and can guard wings or the point position on defense, making him a truly versatile player.  He is a very poor man’s Magic Johnson but has the potential to be one of the most exciting players in the country.

Anderson will not hurt your team, but he might have a hard time winning a game on his own. He needs shooters to space the floor and a big man that can catch his passes to deliver a slam dunk in order to give him the assists that he looks for.

Coach Steve Alford puts his players in the best position possible, and putting Anderson at point guard is one of those. While his son, Bryce, and fellow bench mate, Zach LaVine, shoot lights out from the three-point line, Anderson does the dirty work that helps them get the wide-open shots they so desire.

His first half numbers were astonishing as he finished with a near triple-double. His versatility allows him to play bigger players on defense which saves him for his offensive skill set on the other side of the court. Anderson finished with 16 points, nine assists, four steals and nine rebounds making him the best player on the court for the Bruins.

His passing is what sets his game up for not only him but for his teammates as well. Without his passing, Anderson would be just another slashing-scoring forward with an erratic three-point jumper and goofy ball handles. Anderson might just be the best passer in the country, and his display against Northwestern is proof.

The Bruins won 95-78 against the Wildcats, and Anderson’s passing was the highlight of the game.

John Lloyd is a PAC-12 Basketball Writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @JohnHLloydIII

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