Fullerton Allows Van Anderson Back on Team

Van Anderson, a starter on the Cal State Fullerton basketball team last season who was dropped from the team by former Coach George McQuarn, has rejoined the team, Coach John Sneed said Wednesday.

Anderson, a 6-foot 5-inch guard-forward who averaged 6 points and 4 rebounds for last season’s 12-17 team, will be with the team Saturday for a game at Pacific.

“What Van gives us is another player on the floor to help for practice,” Sneed said. “He understands he’s only going to play a couple of minutes a half. . . . It’s very tough for a kid to walk on the court and understand everything that’s going on right away.”

Anderson’s return increases the roster to 11 players, and for the first time gives Sneed a backup for small forward Cedric Ceballos. Derek Jones, the other starting forward, had been backing up Ceballos.

McQuarn dropped Anderson last summer after Anderson failed to meet academic eligibility requirements during the spring semester last year. Although National Collegiate Athletic Assn. rules allow athletes to regain eligibility through summer-school work, McQuarn told Anderson that under a new team rule he would not be allowed to make up the work.

Sneed told Anderson after being named acting coach that he would restore his scholarship if Anderson completed course work to regain his eligibility. Anderson completed that work last week.