NBA scouts got 2-for-1 deal with Sanders, Maynor

Sanders' growth helpful to Rams In watching Maynor, scouts got an eyeful of sophomore center

Two-for-one deals greeted NBA scouts who dropped by Virginia Commonwealth University this season.

The main attraction was senior point guard Eric Maynor, who is projected to be a first-round pick in June. The bonus was watching 6-10 sophomore Larry Sanders, who is rapidly developing into a future first-round pick.

"I hope they all like him enough to draft him and get him out of there [now]," said William and Mary coach Tony Shaver, only half-joking. "It would be nice to see him and Maynor both go in the same year."

Sanders isn't that far along yet. But from delayed basketball beginnings has emerged a man with a massive 7-foot, 7-inch wingspan, athleticism, defensive ability - and visions of what he can become in a few years.

"I think he can be great," VCU coach Anthony Grant said.

Sanders fit that description with a record-setting performance in the Colonial Athletic Association championship game.

A similar effort might be necessary if 11th-seeded VCU (24-9) is to knock off sixth-seeded UCLA (25-8) in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The Rams and the 11-time national champion Bruins meet tomorrow in the East Regional at Wachovia Center in Philadelphia at approximately 9:50 p.m.

Had he continued to follow his early interest, Sanders might well be one of the tallest cartoonists in history. The private school he attended in Fort Pierce, Fla., as a freshman didn't offer sports.

Sanders wasn't into basketball anyway. Dribbling and shooting long shots, the preferred style on the playground, were not his strengths. He was more content to draw imitations of cartoons out of the newspaper.

As a 6-1 sophomore, Sanders transferred to Port St. Lucie High. Basketball coach Kareem Rodriguez spotted him, recognized ability and talked him into playing. Sanders was so green that in his first game, he didn't know the teams switched baskets at halftime. He scored on the wrong end.

He sprouted to 6-4 after his sophomore year, to 6-6 after his junior year, and to 6-9 by the time he entered VCU.

His growth as a player has been almost as rapid.

Sanders' innate defensive ability - blocking or altering shots - was apparent from the start. Glimpses of his offensive ability - hook shots in the lane, spin moves on the low block - didn't really start to materialize until 10 games into this season.

In his first game, Sanders had zero points and one rebound in 18 minutes. In the CAA championship game against George Mason, Sanders put on a mind-boggling display of domination: 18 points, a tournament-record 20 rebounds and a record-tying seven blocked shots.

"[His development is] not an A to B to C thing," Grant said. "He's worked extremely hard to get to where he is right now. That's where it starts. He's got a desire to be a great player."

Prone to fouls early in the season, Sanders was not on the floor for much more than half a game. He still commits some silly fouls, but he's become more selective about blocking shots - and impacting games longer.

Sanders had one double-double in his first 11 games. He's had five in the past eight games and 10 overall. He's averaging 11.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.7 blocks.

"Larry had a very good coach in high school who taught him the basic fundamentals of the game," Grant said. "Probably the biggest thing Larry got when he came here was developing a basketball IQ in terms of understanding terminology, what certain things meant, being in the right place at the right time, just understanding the game of basketball.

"I would say that's where he's made the most growth. His God-given abilities have kind of kicked in and helped."