There is no other way to put it. BeeJay Anya is a big, big man.
Standing 6’7” tall and weighing 275 pounds, the power forward from DeMatha Catholic (MD) is a rising star in the Class of 2013.
Anya, who has dropped a significant amount of weight to settle in at 275 pounds, looked much more agile and mobile at the 2011 Hoop Group Pittsburgh Jam Fest than he has in the past. Though he was playing in an older age group, he was dominating at times in the 17U division for his AAU team, Team Takeover DC.
Watching him play, there are parts of his game that look a lot like those of former Kentucky star DeMarcus Cousins. Anya is a big-bodied forward who knows how to use his size, boxing out and being a force down on the block at both ends of the floor. Though the rising junior is just 6’7” now, he will grow, helping to carry that 275 pound frame.
During one game at Pitt Jam Fest, late in the second half, one of Anya’s teammates drove to the basket and missed a layup. Anya, going up for the tip slam, was fouled and lost the ball, but came down, hanging on the rim. This lifted the thousand-pound, bolted-down base of the rim, he let the rim go, and the base fell back down with a slam that echoed through the gym.
All onlookers could do was look around at each other in awe and amazement.
Anya is still developing a go-to move in the paint, but the sky is the limit for his development. He does a good job taking up space in the lane and creating open spots on the floor for shooters on the perimeter when the offense runs through him on the block. His biggest strength, at this point, is offensive rebounding for put backs and getting free on dribble-drives by his teammates.
On the defensive end, he is many times the largest player on the floor, but he showed he can play against bigger opponents at Pitt Jam. Against 7’3” Sim Bhullar of CIA Bounce, he used his size to hold his ground and limited Bhullar in both scoring and rebounding.
St. John’s has offered Anya a scholarship, but the list of possible suitors for the Hyattsville, Maryland native is long. Along with the Johnnies, there is interest from West Virginia, UCLA, Pittsburgh, Maryland, Georgetown, and Connecticut.
“I like the style of play St. John’s has,” said Anya. “Coach [Mike] Dunlap recruited me and I think he’s a good guy.”
Anya would fit well into the system Steve Lavin runs now because, though he is a big-bodied player, he is mobile for his size and has solid stamina. Many of Lavin’s players thus far have been long, athletic wings who are good for an up-tempo pace. Anya fits well because he brings a rebounding and inside presence, but will not slow the team down.
He still has two years left in high school, and the future is bright.
ESPN Insider recruiting ranks him as the 8th-best player at his position and the 63rd-best overall. He is surrounded by quality players and a great coaching staff at both DeMatha and with Team Takeover DC that will help him along in his development. If he can work on a more polished back-to-the-basket game, it will make him more well-rounded on the offensive end and give him the ability to dominate.
But, most importantly, he will continue to reshape his body and add extra muscle, which is a scary prospect for anyone who wants to get between him and the rim.
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