Corey Sanders (basketball)

Corey Sanders (born April 17, 1997) is an American basketball player for Astoria Bydgoszcz of the Polish Basketball League. He played college basketball for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Following his junior season, Sanders declared for the 2018 NBA draft.

Corey Sanders

Sanders playing for Rutgers
Astoria Bydgoszcz
Position	Point guard
League	Polish Basketball League
Personal information
Born	(1997-04-17) April 17, 1997 Lakeland, Florida
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight	181 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High school	McKeel Academy (Lakeland, Florida) Kathleen (Lakeland, Florida) West Oaks Academy (Orlando, Florida)
College	Rutgers (2015–2018)
NBA draft	2018 / Undrafted
Career history
2018–2019	Mega Basket Georgia
2019	Lakeland Magic
2019-2020	U.D. Oliveirense
2020–present	Astoria Bydgoszcz
Career highlights and awards
Honorable mention All-Big Ten (2016)

High school career

Sanders began his high school career at McKeel Academy in Lakeland, Florida, playing two seasons.[1] After transferring to George W. Jenkins High School in spring of his second year, he enrolled at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida for his junior season.[2][3] Sanders left IMG in November 2013 for family reasons, transferring to Kathleen High School in Lakeland.[2] Sanders was ruled ineligible for the first half of his junior basketball year, averaging 15.7 points per game for Kathleen in the second half.[2][4] Sanders initially returned to George Jenkins for his senior season, transferring to Faith Baptist Christian Academy in Georgia in September 2014, and finally to West Oaks Academy in Orlando by November.[1] Sanders led West Oaks to the 2015 Sunshine Independent Athletic Association State Championship.[5][6]

Sanders was childhood friends with current NBA player Dwayne Bacon. The two were teammates at McKeel Academy and while playing AAU basketball for the Showtime Ballers.[3][4][5][7][8]

Sanders was considered a four-star recruit, ranked 62nd in his class of 2015 by ESPN and 75th overall by Rivals.com.[5][9] Sanders initially committed to the University of Central Florida in fall 2013, but de-committed in October that year.[2][4] On September 4, 2014 during his senior year, Sanders committed to Rutgers.[4]

College career

Sanders played college basketball for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, recruited by former NBA player and coach Eddie Jordan.[10] As a freshman, he led the team in scoring with 15.9 points per game.[11] During the year, he was suspended four games for violating team rules.[12] After the firing of Jordan and hiring of Steve Pikiell, Sanders considered transferring or declaring for the NBA draft but remained at Rutgers.[13] As a sophomore, he averaged 12.8 points and 3.2 assists per game, leading all Big Ten sophomores.[11] During his junior year, Sanders averaged 15.2 points per game in the regular season and 24.7 ppg during the Big Ten Tournament.[7] Over three seasons, he averaged of 14.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.[14] At the conclusion of his junior season, he officially declared for the 2018 NBA draft, forgoing his final season with the Scarlet Knights.[7][15]

College statistics

SEASON	TEAM	MIN	FGM-FGA	FG%	3PM-3PA	3P%	FTM-FTA	FT%	REB	AST	BLK	STL	PF	TO	PTS
2015–16	RUTG	33.4	5.8–13.7	.423	1.5–4.8	.315	2.9–4.0	.713	3.3	4.3	0.2	1.8	1.7	3.1	15.9
2016–17	RUTG	30.4	4.9–12.9	.382	0.6–2.4	.266	2.3–3.8	.613	3.2	3.2	0.5	1.3	1.9	2.7	12.8
2017–18	RUTG	33.1	6.0–15.0	.401	0.6–2.9	.224	2.5–3.5	.708	4.3	3.1	0.3	1.3	1.6	2.2	15.2

Professional career

On October 4, 2018, Sanders signed a deal with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA G League He was later waived by the Vipers on November 1, 2018 without playing a game for the franchise.[16][17]

On January 13, 2019, Sanders signed with the Mega Basket Georgia of the Georgia A League.[18]

On October 3, 2019, Sanders signed with Houston Rockets' G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of Rio Grande, Texas. G League contracts are one-year deals with a base salary of $7,000 per month or $35,000 over the course of a season, plus incentives. If I player is waived, all G-League teams have 2 years of returning player rights. On November 1, 2019, Sanders was released by the Vipers.

On December 12, 2019, Sanders signed a multi year deal with NBA G League team Lakeland Magic.[19]

On January 8, 2020, Sanders signed for União Desportiva Oliveirense.

On May 6, 2020, Corey Sanders signed for Astoria Bydgoszcz.

Personal life

Sanders lives in Lakeland, Florida, and also has a daughter.[11][20]

References

1. Fuoco, Roy (November 16, 2014). "Corey Sanders Transfers to West Oaks". The Ledger. Archived from the original on May 17, 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
2. Sachs, Aimee (December 2, 2013). "Prep Basketball Standout Forced to Sit for Rest of Year". The Ledger. Archived from the original on May 17, 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
3. Sachs, Aimee (July 3, 2013). "IMG Draws Star at McKeel With Dreams of Div. I". The Ledger. Archived from the original on May 17, 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
4. Fredericksen, Brady (September 16, 2014). "Sanders, Bacon commit to Division I schools". The Ledger. Archived from the original on May 17, 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
5. "2017–18 Men's Basketball Roster: Corey Sanders". Rutgers Scarlet Knights. 2017. Archived from the original on May 17, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
6. Collings, Buddy (July 21, 2015). "Coach and top players left West Oaks in favor of ACD basketball". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on May 17, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
7. Fredericksen, Brady (April 18, 2018). "Lakeland native Corey Sanders headed to NBA Draft". The Ledger. Archived from the original on May 17, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
8. Johnson, Raphielle (July 24, 2014). "Las Vegas Wednesday Recap: Corey Sanders working to become a better leader". NBC Sports. Las Vegas. Archived from the original on May 17, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
9. "Corey Sanders – Basketball Recruiting – Player Profiles". ESPN. Archived from the original on April 2, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
10. Carino, Jerry (September 4, 2014). "Rutgers lands commitment from impact 2015 point guard". Courier News. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
11. Driver, David (October 24, 2017). "Sanders has added incentive with Rutgers". The Ledger. New York City. Archived from the original on May 17, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
12. Sargeant, Keith (February 15, 2016). "Rutgers guard Corey Sanders suspended 4 games for violation of team rules". The Star-Ledger. Archived from the original on May 17, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
13. Driver, David (October 20, 2016). "Kathleen's Corey Sanders has returned to Rutgers". The Ledger. Washington, D.C. Archived from the original on May 17, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
14. "Corey Sanders". ESPN. Archived from the original on April 4, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
15. Breitman, Aaron (March 29, 2018). "Corey Sanders Declares For NBA Draft & Will Hire Agent, Ending His Rutgers Career". On The Banks. SB Nation. Archived from the original on April 2, 2018. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
16. Carino, Jerry (October 4, 2018). "Former Rutgers basketball star Corey Sanders signs G League contract". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
17. "NBA G League Transactions". Archived from the original on November 17, 2018. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
18. "EUROBASKET NEWS". eurobasket.com. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
19. "Magic Acquire Lakeland Native Corey Sanders". OurSports Central. December 12, 2019. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
20. Hellman, Sam (October 25, 2017). "Rutgers Star Sanders Hopes Hometown Lakeland Follows His Lead". 247Sports.com. Retrieved May 17, 2018.

21. Sanders Signs with Lakeland Magic https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/magic-acquire-lakeland-native-corey-sanders/n-5579795

External links

• Rutgers Scarlet Knights bio