COLUMN: Loyola Chicago is Playing the Long Game with Damezi Anderson — Which is Exactly What it Should Do

In 2018, Damezi Anderson was a highly touted recruit out of Riley High School in South Bend, Indiana. After two years at Indiana under Archie Miller, he transferred to Loyola Chicago this offseason.

Questions arose as to whether or not Porter Moser would try and get immediate eligibility for the versatile 6-foot-7 forward. But Off The Inbound has learned Loyola Chicago won’t apply for a transfer waiver, instead opting to use this season to get Anderson acclimated with Moser’s high-powered offense.

Given the state of the Ramblers after the 2020-21 season, this is absolutely the right move.

Loyola Chicago returns all five starters from 2019-20 — Keith Clemons, Lucas Williamson, Tate Hall, Aher Uguak and Cameron Krutwig — and the reigning Missouri Valley Conference Sixth Man of the Year in Marquise Kennedy.

On top of that, sharpshooter Cooper Kaifes is back after missing last season with a torn labrum in his hip and Oakland transfer Braden Norris is eligible, which will add some badly needed three-point shooting to the rotation. (Note: Norris’ waiver was denied last season.) This doesn’t factor in junior Franklin Agunanne, sophomores Paxson Wojcik and Tom Welch and freshman Baylor Hebb, who are also set to be impact players.

That’s already a crowded rotation, and it’d be even more so if the NCAA would’ve decided to grant Anderson a waiver. Given the inconsistency of the waiver process, Loyola Chicago would’ve risked crowding the rotation with another talented player.

Now, Anderson can focus on learning the system in practice so he can take on a major role next year after the Ramblers graduate out five seniors — including all-conference players in Williamson, Krutwig, Hall and Clemons. He’d have two years left and would likely start as soon as he’s eligible.

It’d be even more beneficial given Anderson’s struggles at IU. He averaged just 2.8 points per game on 31.5% shooting in 18 games (12.3 minutes per game) in 2019-20, which isn’t what you’d expect from a former four-star recruit. The last time Moser brought in a transfer with those numbers from a high-major conference was 2015, when Clayton Custer came in from Iowa State after averaging 1.1 points per game on 20% shooting in 12 games (5.8 minutes per game) as a freshman.

You could say Custer ended up fitting in well, seeing as though he went on to become 2018 MVC Player of the Year and hit the game-winning shot in the 2018 Round of 32 against Tennessee.

There are plenty of benefits to the sit-out year — and Anderson’s about to find out just how good Moser is at using that year for development.