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Out went Marqwyell Jackson, enter Victor Sanders who is a guard from Portland, OR, and could possibly play this upcoming season.
Sanders has had a long tough road in his college recruitment, regarded as one the top guards in Oregon coming out of high school, Sanders was on an official visit to Idaho last August when the worst happened.
He suffered a knee injury during a pickup game on that visit to Idaho that forced him to enroll at Future College Prep in Carson, CA where he rehabbed and starting playing again in April. Washington State, Cal-State Fullerton also showed serious interest after his return this past April.
Victor Sanders on coming to UTEP:
"I'm just ready to elevate my game and become a better player and a teammate. I want to come and help the team as much as possible."
The 6'6 shooting guard was a Class 5A First Team Oregon All-State honoree in 2013, the same year he led his team to a state championship. Sanders poured in 22 points in that championship game, adding in a 10 out of 10 ice water in the veins performance from the free throw line in the last two minutes, Sanders averaged 24 points a game during his 2013 senior year.
According to The Oregonian who reported Sanders's commitment, he will hope to sign a financial aid agreement in hopes he could play for the Miners this upcoming season. Sanders told me he was coming to play this season, he will visit UTEP on August 3rd where an agreement could be reached.
Sanders is another offensively active guard with all the tools be a top level scorer in the C-USA, he shows high IQ as he moves well without the ball per his high school film, and once shot 6/9 from behind the three point line during his senior year.
He has a long wingspan, and his long stride helps create a rapid separation on his drives to the rack, and he knows how to get to the free throw line.
Whether the I's get dotted and T's get crossed for him to play this season is a question, there is no denying the help he could give UTEP in terms of depth and production right away.
Huge rebound for the Miners after losing Jackson, CTF didn't blink and just kept crootin and added the talented Sanders into the stable of young, but capable freshman guards.