Sanders takes game to PIT tournament

For Jesse Sanders, the 6’3”, 200-pound point guard who just completed his senior season at Liberty University, the journey that competitive sports played at a high level can provide has just begun.

Following the Flames’ first-round exit in the Big South conference tournament, Sanders took two weeks off to rest his body and his mind. Then he got back to work, lifting weights and hitting the gym two times a day, playing one-on-one, shooting around and participating in the team workout.

It didn’t take long for Sanders to learn that he had been invited to play in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in Portsmouth, Va. The tournament, which is in its 60th year of existence, provides an opportunity for 64 of the nation’s best seniors to showcase their talents in front of scouts from NBA teams and professional teams abroad.

“It’s an honor to be invited to play in the Portsmouth Invitational and it has given me a wonderful opportunity to show NBA scouts what I am capable of doing,” Sanders said.

The tournament is set up with eight teams consisting of eight players, one NBA coach and two local high school coaches. Each team, named for local sponsors, is given the opportunity to play in three games over a four day period.

Sanders’ team, Sales System LTD, played in its first game on Thursday, losing 74-71 in overtime. In 16 minutes of play, he finished 0-4 from the field but managed to have four assists.

“The first game was not my best showing,” Sanders said. “The team was still feeling each other out and I didn’t get the chance to have the ball in my hands very often.”

In the team’s second game, an 89-87 win, Sanders played two times the minutes that he played in the first game, and his statistics improved greatly.

He finished the game with 10 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

“The second game was definitely my best game. I got the opportunity to have the ball in my hands and I was able to run the offense and find the open guys,” Sanders said.

In the third and final game, Sanders’ team lost 88-71. He finished with four points, five rebounds and five assists.

“Obviously, my statistics weren’t as good as they were at Liberty but the competition is much better than what we usually face in the Big South,” Sanders said. “Everybody here is player of the year or first-team, all-conference.”

Sanders knows that he is not the biggest or most athletic player being looked at, so he has spent his time focusing on his basic skills.

“One thing I was focused on, because I’m not going to be the most athletic guy, was making sure that my skills were at the top level,” Sanders said. “I was able to pressure the ball and move the ball laterally well, so I think I made some good impressions.”

Because Sanders is not the biggest or most athletic point guard and because he played for a mid-major, he has spent less time in the national spotlight during his career and getting noticed often takes some help.

“I am extremely grateful to my agent, Sam Porter, and to coach Dale Layer for doing everything that they have done for me,” Sanders said. “Because I didn’t receive as much national attention, they had to make a lot of calls and they really pushed the issue for me and I am grateful for the opportunity.”

Sanders hopes to make the most of the opportunity that he has been given to showcase his talents in front of some of the most powerful people in the game of basketball. Maybe one day soon, he will be playing in a NBA uniform.