After going 9-1 in 6A Region III District 18 during the 2022-23 season, the Bellaire Cardinals had high hopes this would be the year they would pack their bags and head to San Antonio on a mission to cut down the nets and return home as the UIL 6A State Champion.
However, that dream didn’t come true. Though they defeated the Memorial Mustangs in the first round of playoffs, the Cardinals fell short, 46-45 to Katy Jordan in the second round. With Bellaire’s big man Anthony Andrews out sick, Bellaire was forced to play the second round match up without him.
However, with Andrews’ return this season, the Cardinals are seeking to rewrite history.
“It hurt when we lost, but we just got back in the lab quickly and kept it moving,” said Andrews.
During the off-season, Andrews took extra time to refine his spin move and pull-up jump shot. Playing with Sheldon Henderson who demands a lot of attention from opposing teams, frees Andrews on the block when the ball is swung around the horn.
“I try to do as many things as I can on the floor, rebounds, blocks, steals, easy putback baskets, anything that can help the team,” said Andrews.
Anthony Andrews
IG: @L4_ndrws
Twitter: @Lj_Andrew3
Position: Forward
Height & weight: 6-feet-7, 215 pounds
Players he studies: Zvonimir Ivišić (University of Kentucky), Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic)
Status: Uncommitted
Favorite artist: Lil Uzi Vert
Favorite subject: Math
Shout-outs: Family, coaches, teammates
Andrews plays a vital role down low for the Bellaire Cardinals. He currently averages 15.4 points per game while shooting 47%, to go along with 6.6 rebounds per game.
He studies the game of Zvonimir Ivišić, the University of Kentucky 7-foot-3 freshman who averaged 11.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game in the FIBA U20 European Championship for his home country of Croatia.
“He can do everything. He can shoot the three, get to the basket, dunk, all that. He’s also effective on defense,” said Andrews.
He also studies the game of Orlando Magic’s Paolo Banchero, who in 2023 was named NBA Rookie of the Year.
“He doesn’t put the ball on the floor much, he just does what he has to do,” said Andrews.
This attention to detail has helped Andrews become a three-year varsity starter while at Bellaire; a big accomplishment for a kid who only began playing basketball in the 5th grade after being forced to play by his friend.
“My friend forced me to play with him on his AAU team, and I ended up liking it,” said Andrews.
While attending Spillane Middle School, Andrews played with Texas Pro before moving on to play with JL3.
“I wouldn’t be where I’m at without the coaches that were with Texas Pro that transitioned to JL3. They always made sure you played at a hundred percent. They didn’t let you slack off; good basketball, no selfish basketball,” said Andrews.
Once Andrews got to high school, he played with LIVON and the Defenders.
“Playing in various competitive circuits made the high school game much easier. I didn’t have much of a learning curve,” said Andrews.
Andrews is now focusing on bettering his defensive skills, moving laterally with quickness and explosiveness. He feels that this is the part of his game that keeps him from being in the highly recruited conversation.
Andrews recalls the advice his dad gave him as he hopes to inspire younger athletes.
“Younger athletes should lock in and as my dad told me, one play at a time,” said Andrews.
