MILWAUKEE -- After announcing his intentions to transfer from the program, forward Juan Anderson will return to Marquette University for his junior season.
Anderson is the second player to return to the program after asking for his release in order to explore transfer options, as guard Jake Thomas elected to stay with the Golden Eagles instead of leaving for another program.
After starting 31 of Marquette's 35 games last season, Anderson was looking to move closer to his family in Oakland, Calif.
"I had an extended opportunity to discuss everything with my family and after those conversations we believed, along with the coaching staff, that Marquette was the best place for me to continue my career," Anderson said in a statement released by the school.
The 6-foot-6 forward averaged 2.7 points and 2.9 rebounds in 13.0 minutes per game as a sophomore last season. Anderson averaged 4.5 minutes in 24 games his freshman season, averaging 0.7 points and 0.8 rebounds per game.
"After multiple conversations that have transpired over the last month with Juan and his family, he has decided to come back to Marquette and rejoin our program," Marquette coach Buzz Williams said in a statement. "He is grateful for this opportunity and I am convinced that this is the right thing to do."
Long and athletic, Anderson would start the game but would often be subbed out for Jamil Wilson fairly early in the first half. He'll now return to a frontcourt loaded with talent next season, as Davante Gardner, Chris Otule, Wilson, Steve Taylor Jr. and Anderson all return with significant experience. With talented junior college recruit Jameel McKay also in the mix, Marquette could have one of the deepest frontcourts in the nation.
Follow Andrew Gruman on Twitter.
