Antonio Anderson, in many ways, has always taken aim at the highest level. The Lynn, Mass. native was a starter alongside Derrick Rose on Memphis’ 2008 Final Four team that was coached by John Calipari. That vision hasn’t changed as a coach.
Anderson, after wrapping up his first season as the Darrow School’s head coach last spring, saw an opportunity to elevate his program to the highest level. There was an opening for a new team in NEPSAC Class AAA, the highest level in one of the best prep leagues in the country, and Anderson struck – he got support from Darrow head of school Andrew Vadnais and athletic director Kris Magargal, and the school sent a formal letter to NEPSAC to be considered. On April 25, Darrow officially announced that it had been accepted, and that it was moving up from Class AA to AAA.
Darrow will replace Brewster Academy, whose prep team left NEPSAC to join the Power 5 league starting this season. The school’s promotion into Class AAA, though it’s located in New Lebanon, N.Y., made some sense, especially geographically. They’ll join Hoosac – located about 30 miles away – as New York schools in the division, which will help the scheduling for other schools in AAA. New Hampton, for example, will play a back-to-back against Hoosac and Darrow to open its season on Nov. 8 and 9, instead of traveling far to just play one game.
For Darrow, a program with promise, the move is exciting as they look to expand their footprint and exposure in the region, and increase their basketball opportunities.
