Sanford showed flashes of a player who can contribute on both sides of the ball. He was willing to stay active defensively while looking for opportunities to create offensively, giving him ways to influence possessions without needing the game built entirely around him. At this stage, continuing to sharpen his reads and consistency will be important, but his activity and willingness to compete give him a foundation worth tracking.

He delivered a strong second-half performance to help lead his team to a Sunday afternoon 1:25 p.m. semifinal victory, scoring 12 of his 14 points after halftime, including three three-pointers, while adding six rebounds in the win.