After a dominant four-year career at Worth County High School in Warwick, Georgia, Anfernee McLemore, an big man with elite level athleticism and a 4.0 GPA had to decide where he wanted to play his college career.
Accepted into top colleges such as MIT, Yale and Brown, McLemore instead decided to commit to Bruce Pearl and the Auburn Tigers, and the rest is history.
After a solid freshman campaign that saw the 6-foot-7 forward/center contribute as a key player off the bench in a season in which he posted 5.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in only 15.1 minutes per game, expectations were high as McLemore entered his second year on The Plains.
In season one, McLemore's offensive game was limited to the paint as he was known for offensive rebounds and vicious put-back dunks which paired well with a tremendous ability to block shots.
In his sophomore year, McLemore continued to build on those strengths while also adding new weapons to his repertoire. In 2018, McLemore became the defensive anchor that the Tigers desperately needed.
Through the Tigers first eight games, McLemore averaged a solid 10.1 points and seven rebounds but that is not where he shined brightest. Through those first eight games the undersized McLemore used his athleticism and timing to swat 3.75 shots a game, a number that was good for best in the conference and one of the top marks in the entire nation.
However, not only was McLemore's impact felt with thunderous dunks and brutal rejections, the "small ball" center added a new aspect to his game: a 3-point shot.
Auburn was one of the best scoring teams in the nation in 2018 and a big part of that was their ability to hit 3-pointers. Every Auburn starter from Jared Harper to Desean Murray could hurt opponents from beyond the arc, and McLemore was no exception.
After attempting only one three-point attempt all 2017, McLemore's range expanded and in 2018, he became a viable option from deep. Shooting nearly two per game, McLemore shot a solid 39 percent from deep on the season including going 4-for-4 in a win against Gardner-Webb in December.
When conference play started, McLemore continued his shot-blocking ways. As the defensive anchor of the a red hot Auburn squad, McLemore's energy and hustle were a main reason why Auburn was finally getting some love from national polls.
In a February game against South Carolina however, McLemore's season took a turn for the worse. A horrific ankle injury silenced the Gamecock crowd as the forward had to be stretchered off the court. A dislocated ankle and fractured tibia immediately put a damper on the rest of Auburn's season as McLemore recovered.
Sidelined for the next 4-6 months, Auburn struggled without their anchor going 3-4 in its next seven games which included an embarrassing 31-point loss to Clemson in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Despite the horrific injury, McLemore was able to break from his "key player off the bench" role to become a defensive anchor, underrated offensive weapon, tenacious rebounder and one of the best shot blockers in the entire NCAA.
McLemore is expected to be ready to go for 2019 as he has already made significant strides in his rehab. With a majority of the 2017 squad returning in 2018, look for McLemore to bring his game to yet another level.
Honorable mentions:
- Tannon Snow (Softball)
- Ryan Davis (Football)
- Daisa Alexander (Women's basketball)
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
