He stands only 5-feet-8, has a boyish look and a broad grin.

Blake Anderson just doesn't look like a basketball player.

"I know people look at me and figure I can't play,"the senior Butler guard said. "I feel like I have to prove I can play every time I go out on the court.

"But that can be fun."

Anderson has had his share of fun in a Golden Tornado uniform over the past couple of seasons:

• He was named tournament MVPhis junior season as Butler surprised Aliquippa in the finals of the Butler Christmas Tournament.

• He was 8-for-8 from the foul line in the final two minutes and scored a season-high 29 points in a win over North Hills this year.

• He scored 24 points, including seven in the decisive overtime period, and forced overtime with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer in a 51-46 double-overtime win over Seneca Valley.

• He scored 15 points and drained four 3-pointers in a 70-64 road win at WPIAL power Mt. Lebanon.

• He scored 22 points, made six 3-pointers and sank the decisive two free throws with 15 seconds left in a 51-46 win over section power North Allegheny.

• He scored 21 points and sank the decisive two free throws late in a 63-53 overtime win over rival New Castle.

"A lot of guys can pad their statistics against lesser competition,"Butler coach Joe Lewandowski said. "The really great players do it in the big games.

"Blake Anderson played his best basketball against the best teams and in pressure situations. He's the best guard I've had since I've been the coach here."

Anderson became a good basketball player by watching other good Butler basketball players. His older brother, Brad Anderson, is a former Tornado

"I never missed his games,"Blake Anderson said. "I loved watching him, Ben Gallagher, all of those guys play. I learned from them.

"I've been playing since fourth grade. Coach (Dick)Hartung has been one of my coaches pretty much every year."

Through his basketball upbringing, Anderson learned how to shoot off the bounce, off the pass and penetrate with the dribble.

Lewandowski said most high school scorers can do two of the three, but not all three.

Anderson's numbers weren't gaudy this season. He averaged 13.7 points, three assists and three steals per game.

"Blake could have averaged 25 points a game if we needed him to do that,"Lewandowski said. "But we're all about team here and he was all about team.

"He played the point when we needed him to. He played the two-guard when we needed him there. He filled whatever role was necessary."

Anderson has played basketball with Butler teammate Alan Jackson since fourth grade. Jackson was always the point guard, Anderson the two-guard.

When Jackson didn't play his freshman year, Anderson moved to point guard.

"I've been playing there ever since,"Anderson said. "It really doesn't matter with Alan in the back-court with me. We know each other so well and both of us can play either position.

"I prefer to play the point. I like to dribble the ball and create plays."

Butler liked the ball in his hands as well. Anderson shot more than 80 percent at the foul line as a junior and was more than 70 percent this season.

Anderson and Jackson will be teammates one more time. Both are planning to play at Butler County Community College next season.

Eventually, Anderson wants to play Division IIbasketball.

"I know it will be a challenge with my size, but I'm used to that," he said. "I need another year to work on my skills and get myself where I need to be."