'07 RI SF Rakim Sanders (Boston College Verbal)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

scout.com

St. Andrews School (Barrington, RI)

Ht: 6-6
Wt: 190
PPG:17.0

prospect

Nice athlete with solid first step. True small forward. Size is a plus. Considered the #12 Small Forward in the 2007 class by Scout.com.

He is listing Ohio State, UConn, Syracuse, Providence and Boston College.

update 7/9/05 Scout.com

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Collegehoopsnet.com

7/11/05

Scouting report on Sanders from the ABCD camp....

72 - Rakim Sanders (2007) - Barrington, RI - 6’4 - 200 - Sonics

Sanders was playing on the stacked team with Oden, Conley, and Cook. I’d never seen this kid play before, but he was highly impressive. Even amongst the big names, he was a major contributor, finishing with strength, and even showing off a smooth outside shot from three. In the evening game, he hit two solid threes, including one of the step back variety, in about a two minute period.

Day 2 report.....

72 - Rakim Sanders (2007) - Barrington, RI - 6’4 - 200 - Sonics

Sanders was a bit quieter compared to yesterday, but he hit some nice outside shots, and looks like he could be a major scorer in camp if/when he comes back next year.

[wadc45]

Scout $

7/25/05

From Bucknuts...Providence is in the lead, but OSU is in the mix. His high school coach would REALLY love to see him at OSU. Rakim was teammates with Oden, Cook and Conley at the ABCD Camp.

The coach also says he thinks Thad will be at OSU for a long time...

[jwinslow]

One thing to add to that summary is that he knew Thad & Groce back when they were nobodies... and said they haven't changed at all. There are a lot more tidbits that the wake flamers wouldn't like very much, b/c they talk about what a great guy Thad really is.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

scout.com (free)

8/4/05

Interesting thoughts on Sanders.....

Kyle S. Lamb (Aug 3, 2005 2:46:37 PM)
Dave, I know a name that has been thrown in the mix in Columbus seems to be that of Rakim Sanders, what do you think of his game? He's a guy I got to see play with Mike Conley, Greg Oden, and Daequan Cook at the ABCD Camp, and he seemed to be a shooter first, but played under control and a decent passer too. Dave Telep (Aug 3, 2005 2:47:54 PM)
He's being evaluated. Alan Major watched him once in Vegas. Way too early to call him a legit target though. He's got a terrific body for a shooting guard. IMO He's a player and is on the watchlist.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ScoutHoops.com

8/12/05

<CENTER>Scout.com’s 2007 Post-Summer Top 50</CENTER><CENTER></CENTER>

Sanders is ranked as the #35 player in the 2007 class.

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[wadc45]

Rakim is rated #66 overall in the new Rivals 2007 rankings.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Sanders is probably the #1 target at SG for Ohio State in the 2007 class.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

scout.com (free)

10/12/05

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Prep Profile: St. Andrew's School

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>
St. Andrew's Rakim Sanders

</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Jeff Goodman
National Recruiting Analyst
Date: Oct 12, 2005

There won't be any more walking the ball up and down the court at St. Andrew's (R.I.). Coach Mike Hart will go back to the days when he ran, pressed and trapped - and his players are ecstatic to go back to the "old" style.
</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=3>
Tony Robertson. Demetris Nichols. Rakim Sanders.
St. Andrew’s (R.I.) coach Mike Hart expects Sanders, his standout junior, to follow in the footsteps of past superstars like Robertson and Nichols.

The 6-foot-4 ½ Sanders, a native of Pawtucket, R.I., will lead one of the top high school teams in the country this year. Sanders was at one time considered a one-dimensional long-range shooter, but he’s added a penetration game to his arsenal and has emerged as one of the top players nationally in the Class of 2007.

``His work ethic has improved, but I’d still like to see him work even harder,” Hart said. He’s gotten much better, especially at taking the ball to the basket. What I want to see out of him are the intangibles – leadership, character and hustle.”

Sanders will have some help.

The backcourt will feature speedy 5-foot-9, 150-pound junior Andrew Hanson and deadeye shooter Joe Accaoui (5-9, 150). Hanson, whose shot has improved dramatically from a year ago, runs the show and has picked up interest from the likes of Boston University, Manhattan, Kent State and George Mason. Accaoui, who Hart calls “the hardest-working kid I’ve ever coached”, will make defenses pay if he’s left alone and he’s being evaluated by Holy Cross and Quinnipiac.

Junior Garrett Kissell (6-8, 250), who played at Springfield Cathedral High (Mass.) and gives the team a bruising inside presence, will slide into the spot vacated when Jon Kale departed for nearby Providence.

``He’s still a mystery right now,” Hart said of his new big man who has gotten looks from Brown and Providence thus far. “I like what I’ve seen so far – he’s got good size and skills around the basket. But I’d like to see Jon-like work ethic out of him. He’s a better player than Jon was his first year here, but Jon came a long way.”

The final starting spot will likely go to 6-foot-4, 180-pound versatile forward Joe Ogugbela, who will be expected to do a little bit of everything this year.

``We’re very excited because we have a lot of weapons,” Hart said. “Especially offensively. Now we can finally play St. Andrew’s basketball – press, trap, run and score. We have a lot of youth, but we’ll be a very strong high school team. We’re going to play the prep schools as tough as we can.”

St. Andrew’s has lost the past two years in the NEPSAC Class B semifinals. Last year it was Martynas Pocius and Holderness. Two years ago, it was Richard Roby and Lawrence Academy.

Hart and his players are hoping this year will be different.

``Our guard play should be very good this year,” Accaoui said. “With Rakim, Andrew and myself. Then you add in Garrett up front and we should be tough to beat. I think we’re a lot hungrier this year.”

One player who should figure significantly into the rotation despite his age is 6-foot-6 freshman Dartaye Ruffin. The Dorchester, Mass., native is a defensive presence who runs the court well and just needs to improve his offensive skills in the next few years.

``He’s going to be a heck of a player,” Hart said. “Untapped potential. I think he’ll be a lot like Torin Francis. He defends, runs the court well and his offense is developing. With him it’ll be baby steps.”

Other players who will vie for playing time off the bench include senior guards Elijah Lidonde (6-2, 160), Hilary Holder (6-1, 160), junior big man Max Bense (6-6, 230), sophomores Michael Culpo (6-1, 170) Elijah Brown (6-2, 170) and Manny Odugbela (6-2, 160) and freshman Michael Accaoui (5-8, 130) and Nyheem Sanders (6-1, 150). ``Last year we didn’t really play St. Andrew’s basketball,” Rakim Sanders said. “We were more of a halfcourt team. This is the first year since Abdi (Lidonde) and Demetris that Coach Hart’s going to play his style – run, press and get up and down the court.”
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Sanders will be visiting Providence this weekend.....

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

rivals.com$

1/25/06

Rakim is averaging 16 points and 7 rebounds a game. Providence (offer), Boston College (offer), Syracuse, Connecticut, Ohio State (offer), Miami are in contact. He will take his visits before making a decision.

(I will change thread title to reflect the offer and keep in mind this prospect is widely regarded to be the only two guard on the board for tOSU in the 2007 class.)

[wadc45]

I think we should also keep in mind that Providence will likely be tough to beat for Sanders' services...

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

added additional pic to profile........

[OSUBucks22]

Scout $

3/7

Sanders is in the process of coming up with a more focused list of schools. He should have this list together within the next two weeks.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

scout.com$

3/8/06

Sanders scored 21 points in helping St. Andrew's win the Class B championship of the NEPSAC tournament this past weekend. As previsouly posted, Sanders could possibly have a list of schools within the next two weeks.