Role models have always been a big part of Steel City Yellow Jacket Dre Anthony's life. He has had a role model who has helped him along the way at every level of basketball and now he wants to be a role model for the next generation of basketball players here in Pittsburgh.
Everyone has someone that they look up to in life for help
and guidance in everything they do. Whether it be the big names like Michael
Jordan and Albert Pujols or someone who lives just down the street, these role
models are all quintessential parts in helping us chase our dreams. Steel City
Anthony’s love for the game of basketball started when he
was eight years old seeing his uncle playing on the streets of Pittsburgh . Anthony said he was always
intrigued by the idea of playing with the older kids and it is what always
pushed him to be a better basketball player.
“Probably around eight years old is when I started playing
[basketball],” said Anthony. “I had a lot of stuff going on so it kept me out
of trouble. My uncle was playing and I always wanted to be around the game
because I wanted to be around him.”
As Anthony got older and started maturing in the game of
basketball, he got a rare opportunity that would introduce him to his second
great role model in his life. Going into his junior high school years, Anthony
and his family moved into the Penn Hills
school district. Penn Hills was just coming
off of a state championship, lead by head coach Jim Rocco, and Anthony picked
the brain of Rocco to help him in his basketball career.
“I was fortunate because when I moved into Penn
Hills school district in junior high school they were fresh off of
a state championship,” said Anthony. “My high school coach Jim Rocco really
took time to work with me over the years and stuff like that. I was fortunate
to have a coach that wanted to work with me.”
All of that hard work with coach Rocco would pay off for
Anthony in his high school years. He would end of being a three year starter
for the Indians where he averaged 15 points per game. He was also a star in the
classroom as well as he was on the High Honor Role in each of his four years
with Penn Hills .
Anthony says that having a role model like coach Rocco has
not only made him the player he is on the court today, but also the man he is
today. He learned both lessons on and off the court from Rocco that made his
transition into college basketball a little bit easier.
“[Having coach Rocco] prepared me for stuff like leadership,
character, and off the court stuff,” said Anthony. “He taught me to see myself
as an investment and really just working on my craft everyday and keep getting
better. By the time I got to college I was prepared for a lot of different
things, it was a challenge but I was ready to take them on.”
After high school, Anthony’s basketball career was put on
hold as he sat out for a couple of seasons. He took on a full time job as a
mail handler at the North Side Post Office before beginning the college search.
After some time away from the game he ended up going to the Community College
of Beaver County where he says head coach Dwayne Walker took a shot on him.
That shot turned out to be one worth taking as Anthony
helped lead the team to a 26-1 record including being ranked number one in all
of the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Men’s
basketball. Anthony averaged 22 points per game in that season and was named a
Second-Team All-American at point guard.
He would then take his talents to USC Aiken in South Carolina where he
averaged 13.6 points per game and four rebounds a night. Finally his college
journey would take him to Clarion
University
Jumping from school to school helped prepare Anthony for the
road ahead in professional basketball. Anthony
says that all of the moving around he did at the college level helped him
prepare for the fast-paced life style that a professional basketball player has
to endure on a daily basis.
“It was a transition because when you go through different
teams and different personalities you kind of get used to change,” said
Anthony. “I was just used to moving around. I did have some familiar faces and
stuff as my junior college coach was on my staff last year when I came home,
but it gets you ready to move on the fly and its one of those things that helps
you prepare.”
His third great role model has helped him in his
professional career here in Pittsburgh
with the Steel City Yellow Jackets. Anthony is very close with teammate
Lawrence Baker and that is what got him connected with the Yellow Jackets.
Anthony says he came out to support Baker during games and when a spot opened
up he took advantage.
“Lawrence Baker is like my big brother,” said Anthony. “I
looked up to him and he has taken me under his wing overt the last five or six
years. Seeing that he was playing [for the Yellow Jackets] I came out and
supported him at games. I was set to go to Italy to play overseas but then
things fell through, so this was an opportunity that he introduced for me. And
then Coach Ace whenever a spot opened up he let me join the team and be a part
of this organization.”
Anthony’s uncle, Coach Rocco, and Lawrence Baker have all
been big role models in Anthony’s life and all three are the reason he is where
he is today. Now that Anthony is playing professional basketball with the Steel
City Yellow Jackets, he wants to be a role model for the hundreds of basketball
players here in Pittsburgh
who are looking to play at the next level.
“It’s special because a lot of people don’t know that this
was a basketball city at one point and time,” said Anthony. “Historically there
are a lot of great players that come out, but I just think a lot of guys get
looked over. It’s giving us an opportunity to show that we do have talent here
in Pittsburgh and maybe it can help out some of the younger guys coming up in
the near future.”
Anthony has been a big pick up for the Yellow Jackets this
season and was instrumental in their recent five game winning streak that
brought them up to the number 18 team in the country. He has been a consistent
member of the starting five since joining the team in January and he looks to
leave his mark not only for himself, but for the players who will eventually
follow in his foot steps.
