Braeden Anderson, a 6-foot-8 power forward from Alberta, Canada, who originally planned to play basketball at Kansas University, on Friday announced plans to attend Fresno State.

Anderson was deemed an NCAA partial qualifier at KU in September, but was not approved for aid by the Big 12 Conference, which made him ineligible for participation at KU. The Mountain West Conference, of which Fresno State is a member, accepts partial qualifiers and is allowed to provide aid. 

“I did not want to commit to two years at a junior college,” said Anderson, who would have needed a juco degree to qualify for a two-year career at KU. “Fresno is a really good fit for me. I really like the coaches there. I’m a West Coast kid at heart. I have a ton of family in California — a lot of cousins.”

Anderson is disappointed he will be unable to play for Kansas.

“My ultimate goal is the NBA. Before that, my ultimate goal was to make a high-major Div. I school. In my mind, I made it there,” Anderson said of attaining an offer at powerhouse KU. “Kansas is where I wanted to go. I would have picked Kansas over any school in the country. I love all the people there. My heart will always be in Kansas. I’ll always have a really soft spot for Lawrence and the people there.”

Anderson will live with relatives and train in California until reporting to Fresno State second semester.

Robert Upshaw has narrowed his list to Georgetown, Fresno State, Louisville and Kansas State. The 7-foot-0 center has eliminated Arizona, USC, UNLV, Maryland and Oklahoma State.

Upshaw will make an official visit to Louisville on October 14th.