Former Archer Anias Futrell Goes Pro in the Netherlands
September 30, 2026
Posted by STLCC in News Resources
All you need is a basket and a ball. From that simple starting point, basketball develops its own language — spoken through jump shots, man-to-man defense, fast breaks and an unspoken connection between teammates. It’s a language that translates from gym to gym, connecting players across borders and beyond accents.
For former STLCC basketball player Anias Futrell, the language of basketball has carried him from St. Louis to the Netherlands, where he has signed a professional contract with ZZ Leiden, a top tier program in the Dutch Professional League. Futrell begins his pro career at the end of September.
“I’m just a kid from St. Louis,” Futrell says as her prepares for his first professional game. “I want to maximize my opportunity here and continue to put myself in the position to play the sport I love.”
Futrell my just be a kid from St. Louis, but he’s a kid from St. Louis who is really good at basketball. Coming from McCluer North High School, he was a two-year starter for the Archers, averaging 17.5 point per game during his time with STLCC.
Others took notice of his performance, and he earned a scholarship to Christian Brothers University in Memphis after leading the Archers in scoring for the 2022-2023 season. From there he transferred to Lindenwood University, attaining All-Conference honors while leading the Ohio Valley League in scoring in the 2025-2026 season.
Futrell credits his time at STLCC in helping him succeed at his future stops. “(My time at STLCC) helped develop me as a man,” he says. “Understanding that everything isn’t always going to go in the direction that I want it to, but as long as I try and give my best efforts I can live with the results.”
Anias Futrell helped lead the STLCC Archers during his two seasons with the team.
Terry Collins, Futrell’s coach at STLCC, singled out his work ethic as a key to his success. “Anias certainly took full advantage of his time in junior college basketball,” Collins says. “He invested countless hours in the gym and weight room to develop the skills and strength to become a Division I basketball player and now a professional.”
“I am very pleased with the arrival of Anias Futrell on the team,” says Radenko Varagic, the head coach of ZZ Leiden. “Anias adds real scoring power to the team. He can both drive aggressively to the basket and tear the defense apart with his three-pointers. On defense, he will help the team with his good anticipation, which will lead to steals and deflections.”
Futrell hopes his story can motivate others looking to find success at STLCC and beyond, but he wants them to understand that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. “This isn’t going to be easy,” he says. “The easiest thing to do is compare yourself to others in ‘better’ situations but don’t do that. Your journey is yours for a reason. The most important thing is to lock in on yourself and control what you can control.”
It is a long way from Highway 40 to the canals and brick streets of the Netherlands, but in the gym the hoop is still 10 feet off the ground and the rim is still 18 inches across just like at STLCC-Forest Park, so Futrell will be just fine. He’s really good at basketball, after all.
