The former Red Raiders All-American Christian Anderson has a home in the NBA.
Former Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson has been selected with the No. 18 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night in Brooklyn, New York.
ESPN pinned Anderson slightly higher at No. 16 in the publication's latest mock draft on Tuesday morning. After the combine, Anderson made it clear that he was "all-in" on the decision to stay enrolled in the draft process and not return to the Red Raiders.
That confidence results in a first-round draft pick and an opportunity to join an exciting young core in Charlotte that includes LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Coby White. The Hornets also selected German forward Hannes Steinbach at No. 14 in this year's first round.
The Atlanta native is the fourth Texas Tech player ever to be drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft, joining Tony Battie (No. 5 pick in 1997), Zhaire Smith (No. 16 pick in 2018), and Jarrett Culver (No. 6 pick in 2019).
Anderson, 20, spent two seasons with the Red Raiders and was an integral part of the Elite Eight run Texas Tech made in his freshman year in 2024-25. His sophomore season included a consensus third-team All-America nod after averaging 18.5 points and 7.4 assists per game.
"This is a dream I've worked toward my entire life, and the fact that it's now a real opportunity is something I don't take for granted," Anderson said, via his agent and ESPN , after a strong combine performance. "I'm incredibly grateful for the chance to compete at the highest level in the world, and I'm ready to make the most of it."
Anderson was this year's Big 12 Conference Most Improved Player, even after being a regular starter as a freshman for Red Raiders coach Grant McCasland. He paired with fellow All-American big man JT Toppin to create one of the only All-American duos in Texas Tech history this year.
"I want to thank Texas Tech and Coach McCasland for everything they've done for me," Anderson said. "Coach believed in me, developed me, and pushed me to be the best version of myself every single day. This program gave me a home, and I'll always be grateful for that."
This year, Toppin's midseason ACL injury put a damper on the Red Raiders' chances of another deep NCAA tournament run. Tech fell to Alabama in the second round of this year's big dance.
Before that, the crafty guard landed on the All-Big 12 First Team by leading the conference in assists, showcasing a strong IQ that will be intriguing to scouts at the next level. His 244 assists in 2025-26 set a new Texas Tech single-season record.
Anderson ends his career with the Red Raiders having scored 938 points, dished 321 assists, posted eight double-doubles, and shot over 40 percent from 3-point range. His career-high came in a 34-point outburst in this past season's opener against Lindenwood.
Anderson's Strengths, Measurables Project NBA Readiness
His offensive game includes an elite 3-point shot. Anderson improved his perimeter shooting from an already-impressive 38 percent clip in 2024-25 to a 42 percent mark, even off of more attempts per game from behind the arc, this season.
Anderson will bring a taste of international experience into the NBA in addition to his play from college. Last summer, he competed on the German national team in the FIBA U19 World Cup. He recorded 18 points, nine assists, five rebounds and four steals in the finals against the United States on the way to receiving All-Star Five honors in the tournament.
"Playing for the German national team and competing in the Big 12 has prepared me for this moment," Anderson said. "I've played against elite competition internationally and against the best college players in the country. I'm just excited to show what I can do at the next level."
Upon entering the NBA, Anderson will project to be a knock-down shooter who can also facilitate an offense. While built more on the slender slide, he presents good length to finish over defenders and handle the ball.
Most pundits believed Anderson would be a late first-round pick going into this summer's NBA Draft, but he could be on the rise after a solid start to the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago.
The Atlanta native measured at 6-0.75 barefoot and 180.4 pounds, with a lengthy 6-6 wingspan and a standing reach just above eight feet.
The height may come as a surprise, as colleges don't often list their athletes' size based on barefoot measurements. Usually, a couple of inches are added when measurements are taken while wearing basketball shoes, which is likely the case for Anderson, as he was marked at 6-3 last season (his hair adds to the perceived height, too).
Where Anderson shows the most potential for a jump to the NBA is his perimeter shooting. After he attended the NBA Draft lottery on Sunday, he put the sharpshooting on full display at the Combine on Monday.
According to reporter Isaac Harris, Anderson recorded a 40-inch max vertical jump and shot well above 60 percent on all shooting drills. He went 27-for-30 off the dribble, 18-for-25 from 3-point range, and 17-for-25 on spot-up jumpers.
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How Red Raiders Move On From Anderson's Departure
For Texas Tech, it represents a massive loss of production and continuity from one of McCasland's best teams to date in his short tenure in Lubbock. If Toppin sits for the entirety of the 2026-27 season, the Red Raiders could be without their top four leading scorers from this past season, as LeJuan Watts has entered the transfer portal and Donovan Atwell has graduated.
That means the process begins now for McCasland and staff to find reinforcements in the portal, which officially opened this week as the college basketball landscape enters the offseason.
