Texas Tech University Athletics
Anderson selected by Charlotte in NBA Draft first round
June 23, 2026 | Men's Basketball
LUBBOCK, Texas – Christian Anderson is headed to Charlotte after being selected by the Hornets with the 18th pick of the 2026 NBA Draft. Anderson is the fourth Texas Tech player in program history to be drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft and the 26th overall selection.
Anderson played two seasons at Texas Tech, earning multiple All-America honors and All-Big 12 First Team as a sophomore in the 2025-26 season where he averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 assists, 3.3 3-pointers and 1.5 steals per game – establishing new program single-season records with 244 total assists and his average of 7.4 assists while leading the Big 12 and ranking fifth nationally in both categories. Anderson finished the season shooting 108-for-260 on 3-pointers (41.5%), ranking second all-time in the Red Raider record book with 108 made 3s in a season. His sensational sophomore season included eight double-doubles, starting with a career-high 34 points and securing his first ever double-double by adding 11 assists in the season-opening win over Lindenwood and his eighth with 31 points and a career-high 11 rebounds in a home win over Cincinnati during conference play. Seven of his eight double-doubles came with assists, including a career-best 13 assists to go along with 19 points in a win over Oklahoma State to open Big 12 play.
A three-time Big 12 Player of the Week selection, Anderson scored 20-plus points in 12 of 33 games played last season, highlighted by going off for 27 points with five 3-pointers in the win over No. 3 Duke at Madison Square Garden and 26 points and 11 assists against No. 17 Arkansas in non-conference play. His 18.5 points per game ranked fifth in the Big 12 while his 3-point total ranked fourth. He made a career-high eight 3-pointers in a road win at Baylor, going 8-for-10 from beyond the arc and scoring 26 points against the Bears and made six or more 3-pointers in five games including in the regular season finale when he went 6-for-12 and scored 23 points at BYU. His season saw 12 games with nine or more assists. Anderson made 33 starts as a sophomore, missing only one game, and finished second nationally and as the Big 12 leader by playing 38:22 minutes per game.
In two seasons at Texas Tech, Anderson finished his college career with 983 points, 321 assists, 179 made 3-pointers and 89 steals in 68 games played. Despite only playing two seasons for the Red Raiders, Anderson ranks seventh all-time in program history with his 179 made 3-pointers and is 10th by shooting 40.0% from beyond the arc in his college career. He also ranks 12th with 321 assists in his 68 games played – making him fourth in program history with 4.72 assists per game in his career. Defensively, Anderson is 10th all-time for the program with 1.30 steals per game.
Along with his individual success, Anderson helped the Red Raiders to a 51-22 overall record, 27-11 in Big 12 play and to back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournament over the past two seasons. As a freshman, Anderson and the Red Raiders advanced to the 2025 Elite Eight with him going off for a season-high 22 points against Arkansas in a Sweet 16 victory.
Anderson is the 26th selection in the NBA Draft from Texas Tech and the fourth First Round selection. He joins Tony Battie (1997 – 1R, 5th), Zhaire Smith (2018 – 1R, 16th) and Jarrett Culver (2019 – 1R, 6th) as NBA Draft First Round picks and is the first Red Raider selected in the NBA Draft since Jahmi'us Ramsey went in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft.
COLLEGIATE CAREER ACCOLADES: AP All-America Third Team; All-Big 12 First Team; Big 12 Most Improved Player; USBWA All-America Third Team; The Sporting News All-American Third Team; Field of 68 All-American Third Team; Associated Press All-Big 12 First Team; Wooden Award Ballot; NABC Gulf District First Team; All-Big 12 Freshman Team (2024-25)
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