[Sly Fox]

We apparently are looking at a home schooler here in Houston from the same program that produced Rachel McLeod for the Lady Flames.


Jesse Sanders
6' 3" 190 lb Point Guard
Houston (TX) HCYA
AAU: Houston Lynx

Rivals Profile

Scout Profile -

[TDDance234]

Any chance he pulls a David Robinson and he grows about 8 inches?

[Schfourteenteen]

Give up our tallest player in 2 years will be 6'4

[mrich]

Home schoolers scare me.

[SumItUp]

Home schoolers scare me.

Why?

[Cider Jim]

Probably the lack of serious competition factor. Almost anybody can post up and shoot over their dad.

[paradox]

I'd imagine that the kid probally plays AAU, which would qualify as serious competition. In addition, there has to be some validity to his skills because he is drawing attention from quite a few mid-majors.

I wouldn't write-off home-schoolers because of certain stereotypes or any players who may or may not have panned out in our program. There may be some real talent out there, and LU would be in a natural position to corner the market on that talent. A parent's decision to homeschool has little or no bearing on whether or not a kid developes his basketball skills.


...

[Sly Fox]

The HYAC plays against schools both public & private and more than holds their own. They are not a typical home school team by any stretch of the imagination. They have several teams each year with one being their top dog traveling squad. Jesse balls with that bunch last time I checked.

Summer ball in Houston is as tough to battle in as any city in the nation. I know formerplayer & current Flame Anthony Smith would vouch for that statement.

[Sly Fox]

"I like Air Force because I like the kind of basketball the team plays," Sanders said. "I really like Liberty too, and Gardner-Webb since my brother is there and he'd probably be there if I get there since they want him to play either football or track after basketball is over. But I'm keeping all options open and keeping everything the same right now as I talk to my parents and pray about it. I'm not in any hurry to sign."

One reason why Sanders isn't chomping at the bit to commit anywhere is because he's learned from the experiences of older brother David, who's currently at Gardner-Webb. The elder Sanders signed early with Texas-Pan American during his senior season, only to see the UTPA coaching staff get fired. He stuck things out for one year on a losing team with bad morale and had to endure a year in junior college in Wyoming before finally finding the right fit at Gardner-Webb.

Click Here for Full Story

[Sly Fox]

The TexasHoops guys from Rivals have confirmed that Jesse has switched his commitment from Rice to Liberty:

April 21, 2008
Sanders Shifts to the Big South

TexasHoops.com Recruiting Staff
TexasHoops.com

Earlier this spring, Jesse Sanders found the right fit at home. But as the gritty 6-foot-3, 195-pound point guard from Houston HCYA learned, the college basketball world can shift at any given moment. Willis Wilson was dismissed at Rice and Sanders started to reconsider his recruitment this spring. He still considered Rice in the process until this past weekend when an official visit led him to choose a different path for his college career.

Click Here for Full Story

His older brother Thomas just finished up his senior season at G-W where he was the star player for the team that pulled off the upset at UK ...

Associated Press Names Thomas Sanders To 2008 All-America Team

Courtesy: Gardner-Webb
Release: 03/31/2008


Sanders averaged 18.0 points and 10.8 rebounds per game in 2007-2008.

NEW YORK – Gardner-Webb men’s basketball standout Thomas Sanders earned an honorable mention spot on the 2008 Associated Press All-America Team, which was announced Monday.

Sanders, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound forward, is the first GWU men’s basketball player to earn All-America honors since swing man Robbie Turner was named third-team Division II All-America following the 1995-1996 campaign.

Click Here for Full Story

And just so you'll know, Jesse has a little brother in the Class of 2010 named John Caleb Sanders who is likely to be the most heavily recruited of the brothers.

[LUconn]

(To continue reading this article you must be a subscriber.)

That was a dirty trick.

[Sly Fox]

And just for some reference, you should check out the front page of RCSsports today. My buddy Jim Hicks has a wrapup of a weekend tourney that talks about the final moments of Jesse's recruitment before his verbal yesterday:

As a matter / fact, the best pair of players in the building were without a doubt Jonathan Simmons (6’6 w Smiley HS) and Jesse Sanders (the National Homeschooled two time MVP). Sanders initially pledged to Rice a few months ago, but recently decided to reopen his recruitment. Consequently, Rice head coach Ben Braun made certain that he was the final division one head coach to leave the building. Midway through the final game of the day, South Alabama’s head coach Ronnie Arrow and his assistant headed out the front door. As he exited, Braun eyeballed his every step right up to the door closing behind Arrow. Then, in one motion he turned around and relayed a mischievous eye-wink towards assistant coach Brent Scott. How did I know? I was evaluating talent, which came in all sizes shapes and forms.

And further down the page ...

RCS SPORTS' 2008 ALL GREATER HOUSTON TEAM(s)!

1st TEAM

Code: Select all

PLAYER 	HT 	HIGH SCHOOL 	CLASS 	COLLEGE 
Meech GOODSON      6'0 	Klein Collins 	2008 	GONZAGA
Anthony JONES 	6'10 	Jack Yates 	2008 	BAYLOR
Phillip McDONALD 6'5 	Cy Springs 	2008 	NEW MEXICO
Jesse SANDERS 	6'2 	HCYA 	2008 	RICE
Elston TURNER 	6'3 	Elkins 	2008 	WASHINGTON

[Chris Lang]

After watching Russell Monroe really struggle to develop at this level, I can understand why some people might be hesitant to put a lot of stock in home school basketball. I would think the home-school hoops in the Houston area is probably better than the ball up in rural Michigan, though. It'll be interesting to see how this guy pans out. Rachel McLeod did just fine for herself this year with similar credentials.

[Sly Fox]

The HCYA team Jesse played for this season was generally regarded as a Top 5 team overall in the Houston area regardless of public or private or size for that matter. They consistently beat some of the state's largest powerhouses. They definitely do not fall into the normal category of homeschoolers. This is a real steal for us. This kid had some majors looking at him through the process and plenty of schools from higher profile mid major conferences were after him.

[flamesbball84]

This is a real steal for us. This kid had some majors looking at him through the process and plenty of schools from higher profile mid major conferences were after him.

List of schools that had interest in him according to Rivals.com:
Liberty
Gardner-Webb
Air Force
Saint Louis
Army
UCF
Colgate
Lamar
New Orleans
Northern Iowa
Rice
Texas-San Antonio
Boston University
Centenary
Dartmouth

So where are the majors then? Only "high profile" mid-majors on that list are Air Force, Northern Iowa, and Boston u. and that's debatable. A lot of kids get looked at by majors and high-profile mid majors, but that really means nothing if the school isn't interested in them. He may be good, but the list of schools interested in him doesn't color me impressed...

[paradox]

Actually, St. Louis & Rice would be the closest thing to major on that list, and he backed out of his commitment to Rice after a coaching change.

Looks like the kid earned all-metro honors in Houston. I think that it's pretty safe to say that this kid's got game and that this appears to be yet another quality pick up for McKay & Soucie.

[LUconn]

I think that somebody who lives in the houston area and follows high school basketball, might know if major teams were at least giving this guy a look. More so than the pathetic recruiting agencies of scout and rival that came up with that list. Do we know anybody like that?

[flamesbball84]

I think that somebody who lives in the houston area and follows high school basketball, might know if major teams were at least giving this guy a look. More so than the pathetic recruiting agencies of scout and rival that came up with that list. Do we know anybody like that?

Like I said, there's a big difference between looking and having interest. Coaches look at players all the time that they never end up being interested in...

[LUconn]

I think you're arguing semantics. Doesn't "looking" at a guy mean there's some level of interest? Or was he forced to watch him clockwork orange style.

[Sly Fox]

The schools from the majors were last summer. After the fall signing period those were the schools in the mix.

[flamesbball84]

I think you're arguing semantics. Doesn't "looking" at a guy mean there's some level of interest? Or was he forced to watch him clockwork orange style.

I've looked at some women before then decided I wasn't interested in them...

[LUconn]

I find that hard to believe.

[Hold My Own]

I met Jesse at the Depot Grill downtown...great kid and a very smart father. They toured the Law School (I believe his father is a lawyer) and I'm pretty sure that our law school will impress anyone. Jesse seemed like he's a very well rounded guy, I'd like to talk to him some more.

[Knucklehead]

It's getting really hard to follow the 3 threads that make up the Jesse Saunders saga. Someone want to summarize it and the impact on the roster for me please!??!!?!??!

[LUconn]

should I draw you a recruiting Matrix?