As the old adage goes, big men always take longer to develop and that is looking like the case for Sanders. The 6-foot-10 center has shown steady improvements over the last few months after not seeing much playing time during his sophomore season. Sanders had some impressive moments with Crossroads at Nevada Live, showing improved rim protecting presence in altering, blocking and deterring shots around the rim. The rising junior, who jumped from No. 26 to No. 18 in the rankings, is still a bit raw on the offensive end, but he does have soft touch and sure hands in the paint.

True big men always seem to be late to develop and that could be the case with Sanders. The sophomore, who is pushing a legitimate 6-feet-10, is a fluid and mobile athlete who uses his combination of size, length and defensive timing to be an effective rim protector. His calling card right now – and key to playing extended minutes this season – will be how he can control the painted area defensively. Sanders is still a very raw offensive prospect but has some tools that show promise for the future.