Connecticut Recruiting, Pittsburgh Recruiting, St. John's Recruiting, Syracuse Recruiting, Villanova Recruiting, Zach Smart

CLASS OF 2011 INTRO: JERMAINE SANDERS

Rice sophomore getting plenty of Big East love already

By Zach Smart

“Life moves pretty fast. You don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

Nobody can argue this memorable, storybook end quote from the classic, 1980s high school rebel flick, Ferris Bueler’s Day Off…there’s a cliche saying that seems to counterbalance Bueler’s statement.

“What a difference a year makes.”

Anyone who’s seen Jermaine Sanders, Rice high school’s budding 6-foot-5 wingman, has taken note of his drastic improvement in the 365-day period.

Sanders was out of the picture last year, as lighting-quick Kemba “EZ Pass” Walker and big game buzzsaw Durand Scott added another page in the New York City perennial power’s regal history book.

Sanders was glued to the pine and opportunities were scarce for the freshman.

Then, in an all-freshman game last spring, the big lefty proved his worth. He scorched the nets and knifed through the defense at ease, en route to a game-high 33 points.

He’s carried the momentum from that marquee performance into his sophomore season at Rice.

Division-I coaches from all over the nation are starting to take notice.

“Everybody’s looking at him,” said Rice coach Moe Hicks. “He’s only a sophomore so everybody’s starting to give him a look. I could name about 20 schools on his list. A lot of ACC and Big East schools have inquired.”

Amongst Sanders potential Division-I suitors are Villanova, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Connecticut and St. John’s.

UConn is familiar with the Harlem, N.Y.-based school’s basketball bloodline.

They inked the aforementioned Walker last year-after a buffet-line of UConn basketball junkies held out signs stating “We want Kemba!” during an early-season game against Buffalo on his visit. The Huskies, along with Pittsburgh, were in heavy pursuit of Scott before the guard committed to Miami.

Sanders, a supplement to the prolific scorer in Scott, played a significant role on this year’s state championship squad.

While Scott (a veritable superman at times) may have been the main attraction, Sanders stamped his imprint with a superb supporting role.

The sophomore shredded some fear from last year, showing a proclivity for putting the ball on the deck, penetrating, and finishing on super-sized bigs.

Sanders employs that rush-hour attitude, he loves to play in traffic. He has grown into his body and learned to jump at contact. He’s a ball of athleticism and energy, splitting defenders on his way to the cup. The Queens native became an instant lynchpin in the uptempo, go-go style that Rice coach Moe Hicks utilizes.

In addition to bringing his track shoes to every game, Sanders also dials in from long distance. He can heat up from beyond the confines of the arc, as he proved during the Big Apple Classic and in various games this season.

After thorough dismantling Lance ‘Born Ready’ Stephenson and Lincoln, the Raiders pulled of an epic overtime win over Newburgh Free Academy in the state championship at the Glens Falls Civic Center Saturday.

It was Scott, who the Raiders look to in crunch time, who hit the biggest shot of the day.

After Kadeem Jack-an uncommitted junior center-swallowed an offensive rebound and kicked it to Scott, the senior rose to the occasion.

Down three with 15 seconds remaining in regulation, Scott took one look at the basket and buried a mammoth trey that sent the game to overtime.

In the overtime session, Rice staved off Newburgh, which stopped Mount Vernon’s heart on a buzzer-beating, 55-foot prayer in the semi-final.

Against the Railsplitters, Sanders finished with the same point total-14-as the highly-rated Stephenson.

Not bad for a kid that saw limited burn last year and worked his way into the starting lineup as a sophomore.

Sanders’ dieseled up 195-pound frame has helped him make the smooth transition from spare part to essential ingredient.

Sanders lists Ryan Pearson, a Queens product who plays for George Mason, as a major inspiration.

“To see where he’s at now, it makes me work much harder,” said Sanders.

He wants a Division-I scholarship and will settle for nothing
less. Lofty expectations for just a sophomore in high school.

That sophomore has now added a New York State championship to his hoop pedigree.

What a difference a year makes.