Before his NBA career he attended Metro High School in Chicago and college at Bradley University from 1978–82. He is one of seven Bradley Braves players to have his jersey number (#11) retired.[1]
Anderson spent 11 years in Europe. He played one season in Spain (CAI Zaragoza) and Greece. In 1993, he won the European Cup, playing for Aris BC. He also played part of a season in Germany, and eight seasons in Italy, most of them in Florence, becoming a star for all the city.[citation needed]