Anya played college basketball for NC State where he was best known for his shot blocking ability. During his sophomore season in a game against Jacksonville, he set the NC State school record for blocks in a single game with 10.[4] In setting the record, Anya at one point recorded 4 blocks in a single possession. His 91 blocks during the 2014–2015 season put him second on the NC State single season blocks list, behind Thurl Bailey's 95 blocks in 1983. Anya entered the 2015–2016 season in 5th place on NC State's career blocks list with 137 career blocks.[5][4] He finished his career with the Wolfpack in 2017[6] with 243 career blocked shots, a school record.[7]
Anya also holds the record for longest wingspan recorded for a non-7-foot player in the NBA Draft Express database for basketball prospects, with a wingspan of 7 ft 9 in.[8][9]
Anya is of Nigerian descent, his father Ben Anya having played soccer while growing up. His sister Stephanie competed as a basketball center for American University.[14]