Remembering USC Star Dwight Anderson

Former Trojan probably made greatest shot in school history

Dwight Anderson, who probably made the greatest shot in USC basketball history, died Saturday. He was 59.

Anderson died in his hometown of Dayton, where he was a local legend and some considered the best player to come out of the city.

After two years at Kentucky, Anderson transferred to USC. He averaged 19.3 points and 6.3 rebounds in the 1980-81 season and 20.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in 1981-82.

His career high was 33 points against Washington in 1981. 

At Kentucky, he led the 13th-ranked Wildcats to an 81-76 victory over No. 2-ranked Notre Dame. Anderson scored 17 points, all in the second half, as Kentucky overcame a 12-point deficit with eight-minutes remaining.

But for all his talent, Anderson is best-remembered at USC for one shot. It's below with Mike Walden and Pete Newell calling the game.

Anderson catches up to a long pass from James McDonald and from behind the basket Anderson lofted a shot over the backboard that swishes through the net.

I was at the game and while the crowd was not huge, it was stunned by the shot and buzzing for several minutes as the contest continued.

Anderson, a Parade All-American, was a second-round pick of the Washington Bullets in 1982. 

“He was the Michael Jordan of our era,” Isaiah Thomas said.

He battled drug and alcohol problems in later years but had been sober for four years when a 2015 documentary was released on his life.