Moon Township, Pa. – Former RMU guards
Velton Jones (2008-13) and
Karvel Anderson (2012-14) spent just one season as teammates for the Colonials, but it proved to be a memorable year. Despite falling short of earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, Robert Morris earned a first-round home game in the 2013 National Invitation Tournament (NIT) against Kentucky, one of the blue bloods of college basketball. What transpired goes down as one of the
best stories in program history.
Jones concluded his career at RMU as one of the most decorated student-athletes in school history, owning career school records for games started (125), consecutive games played (121), free throws (495) and free-throw attempts (688). Jones also finished his career ranked in the top five in school history in scoring with 1,588 points while also finishing second all-time in assists (551). A part of 91 victories during his four active years as a student-athlete, Jones returned to Robert Morris last season, spending the year as the program's Director of Player Development.
Arguably the purest scorer in the history of the program, Anderson spent two seasons in an RMU uniform after transferring from Glen Oaks Community College. In two seasons, he scored 1,123 points, needing just 63 games to eclipse the 1,000-point plateau. Anderson was named the
2014 Northeast Conference Player of the Year after averaging 19.7 points per game and establishing Robert Morris single-season records for points (710) and three-point field goals (119). In the 2014 NIT, he led the Colonials to
an 89-78 victory at St. John's (3/18/14) with a career-high 38 points, tying a single-game record in the process by connecting for nine three-pointers. Anderson, who is in the process of writing a book about his life, recently resigned a contract in Italy
with Andrea Costa Imola.
RMUColonials.com recently sat down with the duo to discuss their relationship with each other and Robert Morris as well as what the future holds.
When you two first met, what made your relationship click that has allowed the two of you to become so close?
Karvel Anderson: "On my official visit, the coaches put me on a team with Velton and
Russell (Johnson), two of the biggest names in the history of this program. On the first play of the game, Velton gets me the ball and I make the shot. We keep playing, and for the game-winner, and remember, Velton is the face of the program, he says to set a down screen for the young guy, get him open. He comes to me for the game point, and I make the shot, and we didn't lose the rest of the day, did we?"
Velton Jones: "Nope."
Anderson: "After the second game we won, Velton went to Coach (Andrew) Toole and said 'Yeah, we need him.' Since that day we've been brothers."
Jones: "We just talked about this, asking each other why we've clicked so much. When Karvel came in on his visit, I knew we needed him on the team. (Former assistant coach Michael) Byrnes told me a little bit about
his background before he came in, not all the details, but I knew a little bit about it. Whenever guys came in I always took them in. That's how we are as a program, we're a family. It was something with Karvel. We just clicked. Martin is my favorite TV show of all time, and he loves it, too. It was evident pretty early on we had a lot in common."
Anderson: "We clicked on the vulnerable side, as well. Stuff with my mom, stuff that was going on with his parents. We needed each other at the time. I knew it was real after practice on Thanksgiving Day during my first year. We went to Toole's house for dinner, and we all went around before we sat down for the meal, the coaches, the assistant coaches, the players, and gave our blessings and what we were thankful for. When it came to Velton, he was giving all his blessings, and at the end he thanked God for me. That made me tear up. He's been blood to me ever since."
During your only year as teammates (2012-13) you made history by knocking off Kentucky in the first round of the NIT at the Sewall Center. Talk a little about what it was like the moment you found out that the Colonials were going to host the Wildcats. Jones: "I was in my room, and honestly I had no idea who we were going to play. Everyone came into my room and said we're playing Kentucky. I saw it on ESPN, and then I found out it's going to be here. I knew we were going to win. We were going to beat them."
Anderson: "When we found out it was going to be played at the Sewall Center, that changed our whole demeanor and attitude. We knew we had a chance to win. Then it happened."
Velton, you always talked about leaving a lasting legacy with this program, and you successfully made that happen.
Jones: "The win over Kentucky was the sole reason I came to Robert Morris. It was to put an unknown school on the map. I had no idea who Robert Morris was when Mike Rice and Andy Toole called me to discuss the opportunity to come play here. I know who Robert Morris is, and so do a lot of other people."
Karvel, after that win Velton graduated and left you the reigns of the program. What did you learn from him that was valuable during your senior year? Anderson: "I learned how to be a leader, both the right and the wrong ways. Velton is an aggressive leader, and he taught me different ways on how to lead. I also learned how to be a man. Dealing with Velton, you have to be a man at all times. There aren't any soft moments when you're dealing with Velton Jones. He taught me a lot of stuff about the program when I played with him and how to be a veteran. As a team we weren't as deep my senior year as we were the year we played together. But he told me to just go for it and live with it."
Velton, you were active on social media during Karvel's senior year, always pushing him, even though you were home in Philadelphia. Jones: "It was exciting for me to follow along and see what Karvel did his senior year. I have a love for this program, and I have a love for Robert Morris University. I love it. It's in my blood. To see him have the success he was having, I knew he could do it. Throughout the year I just kept telling him that."
Anderson: "Velton told me during his senior year, while we were still playing, that I was going to be NEC Player of the Year. He called it. That's what his vision for me was, even before I envisioned it. I was still dealing with the injury to my wrist, and I just wanted to be able to be on the floor and contribute. Here he was telling me I could be NEC Player of the Year. My first message after every game is from Velton. Still is."
Velton, you came back to Robert Morris after a year away from the program to serve as director of player development last season. You just mentioned how you love Robert Morris, was that a key reason you came back? Jones: "Definitely. Coach Toole reached out to me after my mom passed, and having the relationship I have with him, he wanted to help me out. It was something I wanted to do, and it was something I needed to do."
Do you feel serving in that role helped you, whether you decide to continue with coaching or possibly make a return to playing? Jones: "I learned so much from this past year. From being in the office and seeing how the coaches interact with each other off the court as well as how they help the players, it taught me a lot. It's a big difference. I've grown tremendously learning from Coach Toole and the other coaches in how to deal with different situations."
Karvel, you signed a professional contract to go overseas to continue your career. What was that like? Anderson: "Athletically it was the most difficult season I've ever had. It was the first time I was unable to just be myself. At every level I've ever played at, from middle school to high school to junior college to (Robert Morris), I've always been brought in to be Karvel. To score the basketball. Last year that wasn't what was asked of me. I played more of the point guard position, and it was a big change and a big adjustment. I pride myself on being a good passer, but I've never been a point guard. Going back and forth from being a point guard to a shooting guard, it was frustrating, and it was difficult. There were times I lost a lot of confidence. Velton encouraged me, though. The style of play is different, but I think this next year is going to be something big. I compare it to how it was in between my junior and senior years here. I think we can do some good things."
Velton, does the success that Karvel has had in the pro ranks inspire you to give playing another try? Jones: "Seeing the success Karvel has had, as well as the success of some of a few other guys that I know that are still playing, really has sparked an interest for me to want to try and get back into it and play. Really it's just the love for the game. The competition is what drives me, and I still believe I can play the game."
Away from basketball, you both are working toward coming out with your own line of clothing and apparel. How did that come about? 
Jones: "I've always been into fashion. I came across a friend from back home in Philadelphia, and he helped me trademark the name, which is Based Maniere. It's a passion of mine that probably not a lot of people know about. We're trying to put together a whole line, whether it's jeans, shirts, hats. You name it. I have a vision for it, and hopefully it takes off."
Anderson: "I'm the type of guy that always has to play in an arm sleeve. This past season in Italy, we'd go into the crowd after the game and talk to the fans, go around the whole arena and just interact with them. I gave away 15 sleeves over the course of the season, so instead of giving them away and having to keep buying them, I've come up with my own design. I noticed Skylar Diggins was the first athlete to have her first branded headband, and I figured why not try my own. If nothing else, I have my own style of sleeve. There's an alum from Robert Morris, Shelton Carney, and I'm going through him to see if we can launch it. It's called The Best Kept Secret."
