As the Denver Broncos take on the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50, Vallejo, California native and Denver Broncos running back CJ Anderson, prepare to bring home a Super Bowl near his hometown. CJ has become a household name across the NFL because of his hardnose running style, and toughness. However, very few people across the nation know that CJ Anderson, was once an AAU Basketball player, during his youth years growing up in Vallejo.

CJ Anderson once played basketball for the Vallejo Baytrotters, along with former Dallas Mavericks, and Houston Rockets Center, Greg Smith, who is also from Vallejo, California. CJ was a very good athlete, who was also a good leader at the point guard position. CJ would even go on to play basketball for Jesse Bethel High School (Vallejo, CA), all four years of his high school career. For some people reading this, it may be hard trying to imagine CJ Anderson running point guard, rather than running through holes for touchdowns, but there are many NFL players, who have an AAU Basketball background.

CJ is just one of many athletes in the NFL, who played AAU Basketball growing up. The hardest thing for young athletes to realize when they play multiple sports, is what sport they love to do, versus the sport they should do. For CJ, basketball was a sport that he can play at a high level, but football was a sport that he loved more, and also had a better chance playing professionally. Today, there are athletes that play AAU Basketball, that will make it in another sport. No matter what sport that may be, the athlete must be realistic when it comes to ability, size, and the amount of interest they are getting in each sport.