Anthony finds new home

"I’ve got to find a place to live now," said Anthony, who found a home on the Miami Heat’s roster as NBA teams trimmed to the limit of 15 players.

Undrafted in June, the 6-foot-9-inch Anthony was considered a long shot to make the Heat after signing as a free agent. But that might have been the easiest part of a journey that essentially began three years ago, when Anthony joined the Rebels and admittedly could barely catch, dribble or shoot.

A lanky 225 pounds as a UNLV junior, Anthony left college a muscular 255.

In December, he was pulled from the Rebels’ starting lineup and became a backup to Gaston Essengue. Less than a year later, he’s a backup to Shaquille O’Neal.

"Seeing it all now, I am surprised," Anthony said. "I always keep pushing myself, keep working at it and never give up. I was never getting too down when things wouldn’t go my way."

Anthony averaged 1.9 points per game as a junior and redshirted during the 2005-06 season, making the most of his year away from game competition.

UNLV coach Lon Kruger said in terms of commitment, discipline and self-motivation, Anthony was his best student in 30 years.

"He was just great, and he never wavered," Kruger said. "It was, ‘Just tell me what I should do, and I’ll do it,’ and he did it every day.

"I felt really confident about his ability to play professionally, but to say the NBA, that’s tough to do, especially in his first year."

Anthony started six of 37 games as a senior and averaged 5.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. He had 109 blocked shots and was named the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

In five preseason games with Miami, he averaged 5.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks. The Heat cut four players Monday, but Anthony survived and will be on the bench for Thursday’s season opener.

"It’s great to be able to make the roster, but I still have a long way to go," he said.

Anthony, from Montreal, was one of five seniors who led the Rebels to a 30-7 record and the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 last season. All five are now beginning pro careers.

Essengue went to Turkey and shooting guard Michael Umeh is in Germany. Point guard Kevin Kruger and forward Wendell White are weighing options that include the National Basketball Development League.

Essengue signed with Selcuk, a team in the Turkish Basketball League. It’s a long way from the NBA but is regarded as one of the best leagues in Europe.

After starting the season in Turkey, Essengue made an unscheduled trip back to Las Vegas. He broke his right foot, had surgery Oct. 10 and will miss about five more weeks.

"When you get this type of injury, it’s kind of tough. The best thing is to be around people you know," said Essengue, on crutches at a recent UNLV practice.

"(In Turkey), I was kind of by myself. I decided to come back and be with my girlfriend. This is like my hometown, so I’m happy to see people. Now I just hope to get healthy and get back on the floor."

Essengue started 31 of 37 games for the Rebels last season and averaged 7.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.

In August, he played a major role in helping his native Cameroon reach the title game of the FIBA Africa Championship and earn a bid to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Essengue said he talks often with Umeh, who is playing for Giessen, a team in Germany.

White, the leading scorer for UNLV last season, is hoping to catch on with the Los Angeles D-Fenders, the D-League affiliate of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kruger averaged 3.0 points in three preseason games with the Orlando Magic before being waived last week. Kruger might end up in the D-League, which holds its draft Thursday, or play overseas.

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2907.