Growing in length - and stature - Ellensburg's Olivia Anderson emerging as one of top class of 2023 basketball recruits in the country
SELAH, WASH. — Ellensburg High School sophomore basketball standout Olivia Anderson continues to feel more comfortable in her expanding body.
Which, at nearly 6-foot-5, is saying something.
"It is definitely a little different," said Anderson after the Bulldogs' victory at Selah on Tuesday. "Growing fast, your body changes a lot. You have to think about what you are going to do before you do it."
It was quite a month of May for the talented wing player, who is a first-year starter for the Bulldogs.
She was one of three Washington state players selected into ESPN.com HoopGurlz "Super 60" national prospect rankings for the class of 2023, coming in at No. 47 (Eastside Catholic's Malia Samuel is at No. 45, and Arlington's Jenna Villa is at No. 58).
And during the last weekend of the month, Anderson began tryouts for the USA Basketball Women's Under-16 national team - with hopes of making the 12-player squad that will play in the FIBA Americas U16 Championship in mid-June in Chile.
Anderson isn't one to embrace all the attention, but she isn't shying away from it, either.
"I mean, it's a little overwhelming at times," Anderson said. "But I am definitely grateful for all the opportunities this has given me."
By no means is Anderson a finished product, but she flashes elite skill as a defensive enforcer and 3-point shooter from the perimeter.
And one skill that might get overlooked is her ability to deliver bullet passes to streaking teammates in stride.
"Last summer, even thought we had a lack of games, the more training I got (at FBC Northwest Alliance), the more confident I got with myself," Anderson said.
And that is showing up more consistently on the court with this deep Bulldogs' group.
"She is progressing, and is going to get better and better. She's got to get stronger," said Ellensburg girls coach Jeff Whitney, also the former women's coach at Central Washington University.
"I am excited to see her by the time she's a junior with another summer under her belt."
