Patriots' Sanders Is No Stranger To Being A Long Shot

Published on September 16, 2003 under NBA G League (G League)
Fayetteville Patriots News Release


FAYETTEVILLE, N.C., September 16, 2003 – Large numbers don't worry Junie Sanders. Last October, he beat out 114 other players in the Patriots' Free Agent Camp in Southern Pines, N.C., to earn a training camp spot.

Once in training camp, he was one of 10 men out of the 25 attendees who made the Patriots opening day 2002-2003 roster. He was at it again this summer. Out of all the street ballers in New York City, he won the King of New York one-on-one Championship.

The victory earned him a spot in the national Kings of the Court competition, which was televised on MTV on Sept. 7 and replayed on Sept. 14. Sanders finished second to Los Angeles native Erron Maxey.

"Of course you want to be No. 1," Sanders said. "But you consider all the people I had to beat to make it to that point, you realize what you accomplished. It would have been nice to get the first prize."

This year five U.S. cities and 160 players participated in the BATTLEGROUND Kings of the Court. Sanders won $10,000 for being the King of New York. A win over Maxey would have earned him an additional $25,000. "There was something special about Junie and that left-handed jump shot he came to our free agent camp with last year,'' Capel said. "It was evident he could create his own shot, which is what the NBA wants to see."

Sanders averaged 8.8 points and 2.5 rebounds in 49 games with the Patriots last season. He scored a season-high 27 points on 4-for-6 shooting from 3-point range against Roanoke on Feb. 20. He had 13 points and 11 rebounds against Columbus on March 8.

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