Bio entering the 2024-25 season
As a Sophomore (2023-24 Season)
Appeared in all 37 games including starting the first 21 games of the season… Averaged 6.2 points and 3.6 rebounds in 20.2 minute per game… Added 29 assists, 17 steals and 11 blocks in a total of 749:09 of court time… Shot 41.9 percent (83-of-198) from the floor, 32.2 percent (39-of-121) from beyond the arc, and 96.0 percent (24-of-45) from the line… Scored a career-high 16 points vs. Washington (11/19) in the championship game of the Continental Tire Main Event, among six games in double digits on the season: also 14 at UNLV (3/5), 13 at UC San Diego (12/1), 12 vs. New Mexico (2/16), 11 vs. Long Beach State (11/14) and 10 vs. San Jose State (2/27)… Knocked down multiple field goals in 25 contests, including a career-high five buckets at UC San Diego, vs. New Mexico (2/16) and at UNLV (3/5)… Shot 50.0 percent or better in 16 contests… Had nine games where he hit multiple 3-pointers, which included four, a career-best, at UNLV (3/5) as well as three vs. Washington, at UC San Diego, vs. Wyoming (1/23) and vs. Boise State (3/8)… Went to the line six times vs. Long Beach State and knocked them all down (6-of-6) for career-highs in both categories… Totaled four or more rebounds in 18 games, led by a career-high equaling eight vs. Washington… Ripped down multiple offensive rebounds in 10 contests and matched his career-best with three offensive boards vs. Washington, vs. Wyoming, at Colorado State (1/30), and at UNLV (3/5)… On the defensive glass, equaled a career-high five rebounds - vs. Washington, vs. Stanford (12/21), at Gonzaga (12/29) and at San Jose State (1/9) – among eight games with at least four defensive boards… Among nine games with multiple assists, dished out a season-best and career-high matching three vs. St. Katherine (12/19)… Blocked two shots at UNLV (3/5) and a career-best four vs. Saint Mary’s (11/17) in the Continental Tire Main Event… Established a new career-high with four steals at Brigham Young (11/10) and also had multiple steals, two in each game, vs. Cal State Fullerton (11/6) and at San Jose State… Logged double digit minutes in every game, including a career-high 35:23 vs. Washington (11/19), and was on the floor for at least 20 minutes in 18 contests.
As a Freshman (2022-23 Season)
Appeared in 16 games all off the bench… Averaged 0.9 points and 1.1 rebounds in 5.8 minutes per game… Added eight assists, one blocked shot and one steal in 92:48 minutes of action… Shot 27.8 percent (5-of-18) from the field, 18.2 percent (2-of-11) from the bonus distance and 33.3 percent (2-of-6) from the line… Played a season-high 24:58 vs. Occidental (12/2)… Twice, vs. Occidental and Kennesaw State (12/12) knocked two a season-best two field goals and in the Kennesaw State game his two buckets were 3-pointers, his only two of the season… He had three games with multiple rebounds, including a single-game high eight vs. Occidental, which included three on the offensive glass, also a single-game best… Against Occidental and Kennesaw State dished out three assists, both season-highs… His lone steal of the year was against Colorado State (2/21) and his lone block came versus Occidental… Scored a season-best six points against Kennesaw State.
High School
A 2022 graduate of Sunnyslope High School in Phoenix, Ariz.... A four-start rated recruit, 1,000 points scorer and McDonald’s All-American nominee… A three-year letter winner at Sunnyslope after attending Rancho Solano High in Scottsdale, Ariz., as a freshman… As both a junior and senior, earned back-to-back Conference 6A Player of the Year, 6A Southwest Section Player of the Year, and Arizona Republic All-Arizona Team honors… Won the state champion as a junior after guiding the Viking to a 21-1 overall record and averaging 15.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists… In three seasons at Sunnyslope his teams posted a 69-10 mark, including 23-3 in league play, and in his final two seasons he was 46-4 and 14-0 in Conference 6A play… As a senior averaged 22.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists while leading his team to the state tournament’s quarterfinal round.
Personal
Majoring in criminal justice... The son of Andrea and Yaki Saunders… Father played basketball at Arkansas State… Chose San Diego State over Notre Dame, Miami, Virginia Tech and South Carolina, among others.