Larry Sanders (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Larry Sanders is an American basketball
player drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks
of the NBA. He played power forward
for the Virginia Commonwealth University
Rams
. As a junior Sanders averaged 14.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks. He then declared himself eligible for the 2010 NBA Draft
and was selected 15th by the Milwaukee Bucks. He was born in Fort Pierce, Florida
.
. Kareem Rodriguez, the school's basketball coach, spotted Sanders, saw ability and talked him into playing. Sanders was 6'4" after the 10th grade, and 6'6" after the 11th grade. That is when Rodriguez alerted Tony Pujol, a VCU assistant and friend. Sanders sprouted to 6'9" in his high school senior year. Sanders liked the idea of learning under then VCU head coach Anthony Grant
, who previously tutored prominent big men at the University of Florida
as an assistant. Sanders began drawing statewide attention when he helped lead Port St. Lucie to the Class 5A state semifinals his junior season. He averaged 18.9 points and 13 rebounds his senior season, leading Port St. Lucie (20–8) to the District 13-5A championship, and was named first team all-state. He committed to the Rams just as some major schools began to show interest.
. He excelled in that role, utilizing his size and athleticism to disrupt teams defensively. As a sophomore he helped the Rams into the 2009 NCAA Tournament
against the UCLA Bruins
, but lost 65–64 in the first round of the tournament. Sanders went on to have a more prominent role in his junior season after Maynor was drafted into the NBA. As a junior Sanders averaged 14.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks, with 53% field-goal accuracy, all statistical team highs, on his way to earning the second of his consecutive CAA
Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2008–09 and 2009–10.
Larry Sanders announced in April 2010 after his junior year that he was departing VCU early to enter the NBA Draft
.
as the 15th pick in the 2010 NBA Draft
. On February 21, 2011, he was assigned to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants
of the NBA D-League. He was recalled on February 28.
| align="left" | 2010–11
| align="left" | Milwaukee
| 60 || 12 || 14.5 || .433 || .000 || .560 || 3.0 || .3 || .4 || 1.2 || 4.3
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 60 || 12 || 14.5 || .433 || .000 || .560 || 3.0 || .3 || .4 || 1.2 || 4.3
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
of the NBA. He played power forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
for the Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University is a public university located in Richmond, Virginia. It comprises two campuses in the Downtown Richmond area, the product of a merger between the Richmond Professional Institute and the Medical College of Virginia in 1968...
Rams
Virginia Commonwealth University Rams men's basketball
The Virginia Commonwealth University Rams are the basketball team that represents Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. VCU currently competes in the Colonial Athletic Association. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2011 where they...
. As a junior Sanders averaged 14.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks. He then declared himself eligible for the 2010 NBA Draft
2010 NBA Draft
The 2010 NBA Draft was held on June 24, 2010 at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The draft, which started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur...
and was selected 15th by the Milwaukee Bucks. He was born in Fort Pierce, Florida
Fort Pierce, Florida
Fort Pierce, also spelled Ft. Pierce, is a city in St. Lucie County, Florida, USA. It is known as The Sunrise City. The population was 37,959 at the 2004 census. As of 2008, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 41,000. It is the county seat of St. Lucie County.Fort Pierce is part...
.
High school career
Sanders was not playing basketball in the ninth grade; the private school he attended did not offer sports. He was 6'1" when he transferred to Port St. Lucie High SchoolPort St. Lucie High School
Port St. Lucie High School, nicknamed "P.S.L.H.S", is the city of Port St. Lucie's first high school within its boundaries. It is located in the southeast area of St. Lucie County and is open to students only in that area...
. Kareem Rodriguez, the school's basketball coach, spotted Sanders, saw ability and talked him into playing. Sanders was 6'4" after the 10th grade, and 6'6" after the 11th grade. That is when Rodriguez alerted Tony Pujol, a VCU assistant and friend. Sanders sprouted to 6'9" in his high school senior year. Sanders liked the idea of learning under then VCU head coach Anthony Grant
Anthony Grant
-External links:* at RollTide.com...
, who previously tutored prominent big men at the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
as an assistant. Sanders began drawing statewide attention when he helped lead Port St. Lucie to the Class 5A state semifinals his junior season. He averaged 18.9 points and 13 rebounds his senior season, leading Port St. Lucie (20–8) to the District 13-5A championship, and was named first team all-state. He committed to the Rams just as some major schools began to show interest.
College career
For his first two seasons for VCU, Sanders played 2nd star to guard Eric MaynorEric Maynor
Eric Demarqua Maynor is an American professional basketball player at point guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the NBA. He played college basketball for the VCU Rams...
. He excelled in that role, utilizing his size and athleticism to disrupt teams defensively. As a sophomore he helped the Rams into the 2009 NCAA Tournament
2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The first and second round games were played at the following sites:First and Second Rounds: Thursday and Saturday, March 19 and 21, 2009-Qualifying teams:-Brackets:Results to date * – Denotes overtime periodAll times in U.S. EDT....
against the UCLA Bruins
UCLA Bruins
The UCLA Bruins are the sports teams for University of California, Los Angeles . The Bruin men's and women's teams participate in NCAA Division I as part of the Pacific-12 Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation . For football, they are in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I...
, but lost 65–64 in the first round of the tournament. Sanders went on to have a more prominent role in his junior season after Maynor was drafted into the NBA. As a junior Sanders averaged 14.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks, with 53% field-goal accuracy, all statistical team highs, on his way to earning the second of his consecutive CAA
Colonial Athletic Association
The Colonial Athletic Association is a NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose full-time members are located in East Coast states from Massachusetts to Georgia. Most of its members are public universities, with five in Virginia alone, and the conference is headquartered in Richmond,...
Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2008–09 and 2009–10.
Larry Sanders announced in April 2010 after his junior year that he was departing VCU early to enter the NBA Draft
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
.
NBA career
Larry Sanders was chosen by the Milwaukee BucksMilwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
as the 15th pick in the 2010 NBA Draft
2010 NBA Draft
The 2010 NBA Draft was held on June 24, 2010 at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The draft, which started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur...
. On February 21, 2011, he was assigned to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants
Fort Wayne Mad Ants
The Fort Wayne Mad Ants are a team of the NBA Development League, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum is the home venue for the team. The team is the first minor league basketball franchise to play in Fort Wayne since the Fort Wayne Fury...
of the NBA D-League. He was recalled on February 28.
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 2010–11
2010–11 NBA season
The 2010–11 NBA season was the 65th season of the National Basketball Association . The 2011 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 20, 2011 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in six games, 4 games to 2, to win their first NBA title, and...
| align="left" | Milwaukee
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
| 60 || 12 || 14.5 || .433 || .000 || .560 || 3.0 || .3 || .4 || 1.2 || 4.3
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 60 || 12 || 14.5 || .433 || .000 || .560 || 3.0 || .3 || .4 || 1.2 || 4.3