Corey Sanders
Corey Sanders
(Photo courtesy of 247Sports.com, used with permission)
Head coach Eddie Jordan and the Rutgers men's basketball staff has secured one commitment from the 2015 recruiting class in Corey Sanders, a 6-1, 170-pound point guard from Kathleen (Bradenton, Fla.).
In an effort to evaluate the four-star recruit, NJ Advance Media reached out to Leigh Klein, a former assistant at Texas and Rhode Island during their NCAA Tournament runs under legendary head coach Tom Penders.
Klein currently owns and coaches Five-Star Basketball Camps, where players, including Michael Jordan, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Dwayne Wade, LeBron James and Patrick Ewing, have come through.
He is a contributor to SLAMOnline.com and regular radio guest on FoxSports Radio, Yahoo Sports Radio, as well as locally on WFAN.
Klein previously analyzed Mike Williams, Bishop Danielsand Ibrahima Diallo – members of the 2014 recruiting class – for NJ Advance Media. And he will now project the skill-set of one of the most highly-anticipated recruits the Rutgers basketball program has had in years.
Projected collegiate position
Eddie Jordan enlisted Sanders to become the point guard and leader of a team ascending up the ranks of the Big Ten. Sanders coupled with Bishop Daniels should provide big-time athleticism at guard, something that Rutgers has not had since its vault into major conference basketball.
Areas for improvement
Sanders' biggest criticism stems from shot selection and consistency with his perimeter range. He's more of a shot-maker than a shooter, and to be successful at the next level, he must be a three-point threat. Standing only 6-1, will Sanders be the same bulldog defender against the taller, longer guards on the major level of competition, who are equally as quick and athletic as he?
And although Sanders has big bounce on the court, unfortunately it's spilled off the court. He's on his third high school and had previously committed to another college – the University of Central Florida – before landing at Rutgers. There will be adversity on the road ahead and Sanders must be tough enough to see it through and not bounce, once again.
Overall assessment
Sanders represents a recruiting coup for Eddie Jordan and his staff. The ability to persuade a top 100 player from Florida to come north and play in the Big Ten is a monumental advance for the program.
Following a great 2013 summer with standout performances at Five-Star's (loaded) Orlando Camp and the Reebok Breakout Camp, Sanders vaulted himself into the national rankings picture, earning offers from multiple top programs across the country.
Fans will love his athleticism and infectious personality, while Jordan will attempt to develop the wild stallion into a floor leader. The key for Sanders to successfully transition from high school to the Big Ten will be extending his shooting range. He will need to be more than a mid-range player to thrive at this level.
Sanders must be a consistent threat from beyond the arc to counter defenses that look to cut off his strong drives to the basket. I've been told Jordan sees a little bit of the fire and intensity that defined him as a player in Sanders.
See photos of Rutgers' current football commits, here:
Todderick Hunt may be reached at thunt@nj.com. Follow him on Twitter @TodderickHunt. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.