The NBA Finals have not even begun but it is already time for most of the league to start preparing for next season. The lottery was held on May 10th, the final deadline for NCAA players to withdraw is May 27th, and the draft will begin on June 23rd. We will spend the months ahead interviewing as many members of this year’s draft class as possible. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel commences our coverage by chatting with Lindenwood G Anias Futrell about being named 1st-team all-conference and what it would mean to him to get drafted.
You began your college career in your hometown at St. Louis Community College: what is the biggest difference between D-1 and JUCO? What you are taught by the coaches. In JUCO it is a lot about fundamentals, but in D-1 the focus is on game-planning and maximizing your skills. The pace is also faster in D-1.
What made you choose Lindenwood? I am from St. Louis and Lindenwood is just 20 minutes from my family’s house. I did not even know that the school existed before they contacted me, but 1 of my goals was to play D-1 basketball, and the assistant coach who recruited me really wanted me to go there. My family and I support each other through everything so the chance to play close to home was great.
In 2025 you led your team in PPG/RPG/SPG/BPG: how are you able to balance all the different aspects of your game? It goes back to playing JUCO: my coach (Terry Collins) emphasized that I be a player who can do everything. Even if you are not scoring, you can still impact the game by rebounding/defending. I am competitive and I like to win: if you are scoring 20 PPG but allowing your opponent to score 35 then you will not win a lot of games. I did not want to just be a scorer, but rather a complete basketball player.
You only shot 28 3P% that year but last year you led the conference with 36.5 3P%: how were you able to improve so much in just 1 year? I am very hard on myself: I had a lot of confidence when I arrived at Lindenwood, but I was not producing well from the 3-PT line. I told myself that it would not happen again so I put in the work during the entire offseason and found the belief in myself again: it was a grind.
Last December you scored a career-high 36 PTS/8-13 3PM in a win over Western Illinois: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? That is exactly what it was. During my 1st season at Lindenwood I had a game vs. UT Martin with 6 3PM, and I had that same feeling against WIU. I had all the confidence in the world and my teammates did a great job of finding me as the “hot hand”. Everyone just told me to keep shooting, so I did.
Your 20.5 PPG during conference play ranked #1 in the league: what is the secret to being a great scorer? I do not know if there is any secret. You have to put in the work and find the place that is the best fit for you. I have been blessed to play for great coaches who know the type of player I am and put me in positions to maximize my skills. Last season I played with the most confidence I had in my entire life.
Last March in the OVC tourney quarterfinals you scored 17 PTS but Braxton Stacker made a jump shot with 3 seconds left in a 2-PT win by Morehead State: did you think his shot was going in, and where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career? Considering that it was my last college game it is probably #1. I have played against Braxton for a long time so I was hoping his shot did not go in…but he got to his spot and got good elevation on his shot and it looked like it was good when it left his hand.
You finished the season by being named 1st-team All-OVC: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It meant a lot. I did not get any awards the previous year even though I felt that I should have been in the conversation, so I had a chip on my shoulder last year. If you truly believe in yourself then you can make it happen. It was great to be recognized. I also wanted to be named conference POY as well…but that is another subject!
You are listed at 6’5”: what position did you play in college, and what position would you feel most comfortable at in the pros? I played SG in college: off the ball during my 1st year and on the ball during my 2nd year. I think I can still be a wing or SG in the pros.
What would it mean to you to get drafted, and what is the plan if you do not get drafted? It would mean everything to get drafted. If I do not get drafted then I will not stop, whether that means the G League or overseas, but my goal is to eventually get to the NBA. I am not in control of any of that so all I can do is continue to get better, which is my main focus right now.
