At 6-foot-8 Kobe Sanders is a swingman with guard abilities and a defensive edge, as he turned heads all yr at Nevada. Sanders solidified his inventory on the 2025 Portsmouth Invitational Event, the place his really feel, dimension, and maturity stood out resulting in an invite to attend the 2025 NBA Draft Mix. Sanders grinded his means by Cal Poly, evolving from a job participant into the workforce’s engine by his senior yr. The transfer to Nevada gave him the stage and system to scale up as he thrived in a hybrid position
Sanders isn’t only a former mid-major hidden gem climbing draft boards, he’s the most recent chapter in North Dakota State’s storied Driscoll athletic lineage. His mom, Sara Sanders (née Driscoll), was a highschool hooper, and her brothers, Pat and Mike, are NDSU Corridor of Famers. Tom additionally performed basketball and tennis at NDSU, whereas Jim excelled in soccer and later grew to become a school head coach. The following era stored it going. Mike’s son Jake performed at Minnesota State Moorhead (MSUM), and Jim’s son Jordan grew to become the primary freshman starter at MSUM in 20 years, lighting it up from deep. Their cousin, Amber Abraham, daughter of Kobe’s aunt Kathy, scored over 900 factors at MSUM, set a number of three-point information, and later transferred to D1 Arkansas State earlier than accidents minimize her run brief.
A number of groups have already gotten a more in-depth look per HoopsHype’s Draft Exercise Tracker. Sanders has labored out with the Celtics, Clippers, Hornets, Magic, Pistons, Raptors, Spurs, Thunder and Warriors.These organizations holding picks squarely in his projected vary (picks No. 24 to No. 45), and every presents an intriguing touchdown spot. Amongst that group, Phoenix at No. 29, Boston at No. 28, and Golden State at No. 41 stand out as pure suits. With a excessive ground as a rotational wing and the instruments to do extra, Sanders trending up as a reputation to look at late within the first spherical.
In a sit-down with HoopsHype, Sanders opened up about battling by the lows at Cal Poly, embracing the reset in Reno, how his sport advanced below a brighter highlight and extra.
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KS: I began highschool at about 5-8. Me and my brother at all times skilled to be guards, watching little guards like Allen Iverson and Marcus Paige. My dad had us learning movie, educating us to assume the sport like level guards. Then yearly, I hit a progress spurt, by senior yr I used to be 6-6, and now I’m 6-8. However at the same time as I grew, I by no means misplaced that mindset. It was a blessing.
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KS: Positively. Yearly my position modified. As a freshman, I used to be attempting to play protection and hit photographs. Sophomore yr, I grew to become extra of a defensive man. Junior yr is once I actually took the helm, I ran the offense, was the chief, facilitator, level guard. My senior yr, I did all the pieces, I used to be the primary scorer, facilitator, playmaker. As you develop, coaches ask for various issues, and I adjusted. I used to be blessed to have a coach who believed in me, Coach John Smith, and we spent numerous time speaking and watching movie. That helped me develop and play at a excessive stage. Then I used to be blessed to go to Nevada, the place I ran level a lot of the yr till late-season accidents modified issues.
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KS: It positively helped me develop. Taking part in at that stage challenged me in new methods, and it made me faucet into my versatility. I performed throughout, typically I used to be on the one, typically the 4, relying on what the workforce wanted. That flexibility got here from how I used to be raised. My dad at all times advised me, “If you wish to be an actual level guard, it’s essential know each place, know what every man is considering and the place they have to be.” That formed how I view the sport. So studying completely different positions didn’t simply assist me alter, it made all the pieces simpler. My IQ stored evolving.
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KS: It was a clean transition as a result of I’d already completed that type of shifting earlier in my profession. However the large factor was protection. I knew early on that to get on the ground, I needed to defend. My sophomore yr, me and a teammate would problem ourselves to select up full court docket each time we checked in. I used to be guarding guys 94 toes, smaller guards, simply attempting to make my mark. That effort caught with me. I took each matchup personally. That grew to become my identification, protection, power, and energy.
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KS: Simply being invited meant loads, not all people will get that chance. I talked to my agent and other people round me, and so they all stated, “Go be you.” That caught. You see numerous guys attempt to go to Portsmouth and do an excessive amount of, attempt to show they’re one thing they’re not. However I didn’t need to fall into that. I simply stayed true to my sport, competed, performed with power on each ends, and let my coronary heart present. I believe folks noticed that I belonged. It wasn’t about placing up wild numbers, it was about exhibiting I can influence the sport in each means with out forcing it.
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KS: That’s the fact of professional basketball, you don’t at all times get to select your position, so I’ve been getting ready for something. My journey hasn’t been simple. I went by some actual lows at Cal Poly, and people moments taught me the best way to grind. I’ve needed to struggle by dropping streaks, powerful practices, powerful stretches mentally, however that constructed me up. I’ve acquired maturity now. I perceive that whether or not it’s 10 minutes on the 4, half-hour within the G League, or 5 minutes as a backup guard, I’ve acquired to remain prepared. My IQ and my versatility let me adapt. That’s what groups are in search of, somebody who can plug into a number of spots and lift the group.
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KS: It’s been an enormous focus. In previous years, I’d both begin the season taking pictures it effectively or end scorching, however by no means actually maintain it throughout a full yr. That consistency is what I’ve locked in on. I’ve labored on my mechanics, steadiness, and rhythm, simply tightening each a part of my shot. I need to be somebody who can house the ground confidently and knock it down at a excessive stage. I’ve put within the reps to make that a part of my sport second nature.
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KS: Taking pictures, for certain. Individuals look at a stat sheet and assume they know your shot, however it doesn’t at all times present the entire image. In exercises, I’ve been in a position to actually present groups the best way I shoot, the footwork, the discharge, the power to hit off motion. A whole lot of groups walked away saying, “We didn’t know he may shoot like that.” I believe I’ve opened some eyes with that.
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KS: Progress, in each sense. Being round a successful tradition once more helped reset me. Coach Steve Alford runs powerful practices, high-level, structured, detailed. Coach Noodles is identical means. You’ve acquired to indicate up locked in each day, no excuses. I realized the best way to be constant, the best way to be a pacesetter, and the best way to elevate the usual for myself and my teammates. It wasn’t nearly basketball, it was about being reliable each single day. That modified my strategy to all the pieces.
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KS: It means all the pieces. Cal Poly’s by no means had a participant drafted, so simply having that chance is a blessing. I need to be that man who breaks that barrier, not only for myself, however to indicate which you can come from a small program, keep the course, and nonetheless attain the league. On high of that, being from San Diego, which doesn’t get the identical recognition as LA or the Bay, provides one other layer. We’ve acquired hoopers within the metropolis, however we don’t at all times get the highlight. So I’m carrying three names: Cal Poly, Nevada, and San Diego. I need to characterize all three the fitting means and open the door for the subsequent child who’s being ignored.
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KS: It gave me starvation. San Diego doesn’t at all times get love as a result of we’re proper below LA, and town type of will get slept on. However we’ve acquired expertise, actual hoopers. Being from there made me play with a chip on my shoulder. I knew I needed to work twice as arduous simply to get seen. And even now, I carry that with me, that pleasure, that edge. I play for my metropolis each time I step on the ground. I need to be a voice for all these youngsters who haven’t been seen but.
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KS: Positively Norman Powell. He was that man. I bear in mind watching him play at Lincoln Excessive, then seeing him go to UCLA, and ultimately thrive within the league. He made it really feel actual for all of us in San Diego, just like the NBA wasn’t only a dream, however one thing you possibly can truly attain. He got here from the identical streets, similar gyms, similar metropolis, and that meant one thing. Norm was the blueprint. He confirmed us what it appeared like to hold your self like a professional, on and off the ground. He holds weight in our metropolis, for certain.
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KS: Yeah, for certain. I performed with Gamepoint, Brandon Angel was one of many guys on my workforce there. Earlier on, once I was youthful, I performed for San Diego Choose. That workforce had numerous dudes who went on to play at a excessive stage, like Chibuzo Agbo and Ziaire Williams. We had severe expertise. These video games have been intense, and so they compelled me to boost my stage. It was aggressive each day. That early AAU expertise helped form my mentality, the best way to put together, the best way to compete, and the best way to play towards high guys.
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KS: I picked Cal Poly initially to remain nearer to dwelling. I’ve at all times been actual shut with my household, that bond is all the pieces to me. However after going by what I did at Cal Poly, Nevada felt like the fitting reset. It was nonetheless on the West Coast, however simply far sufficient that it was a brand new setting. It wasn’t simple being away from dwelling, however my “why” was my household, my religion, was at all times only a telephone name away. They stored me grounded. That shift gave me house to develop and focus, and being in a brand new tradition like Nevada’s, the place successful mattered, was precisely what I wanted.
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KS: I research numerous Jalen Williams from OKC. He performs the sport the fitting means, he’s clean, managed, performs each ends, and doesn’t drive something. He creates house, scores inside the circulate, and guards at a excessive stage. That’s somebody I attempt to emulate. I additionally watch the entire Thunder squad, their system, how they transfer the ball, how unselfish they’re. That’s the kind of setting I need to be in, the place IQ and belief matter.
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KS: I take items from numerous guys. CJ McCollum, his capability to make use of angles, how he modifies speeds, how sensible he’s as a scorer. Jalen Brunson, his footwork within the mid-range is elite, and he’s at all times calm below strain. Defensively, I watch how greater guards use their size and anticipation to influence performs. I’m at all times watching, looking for the little issues, particulars most individuals miss and determine the best way to add them to my very own sport.
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KS: I’ve been locked in all offseason. I’m within the weight room engaged on power and explosiveness, doing plyometrics to remain mild and cell. On the court docket, I’m training being each the handler and the screener in actions, pick-and-roll, DHO, off-ball motion. Defensively, I’m guarding 1 by 4, studying completely different reads, and dealing on switches and closeouts. I need to be that man a coach can throw wherever on the ground, and I’ll know the position, execute it, and do it with power. That’s what retains you on the court docket.
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KS: Little question, my time at Cal Poly. Dropping 39 straight convention video games, that does one thing to you mentally. You begin to query all the pieces, your sport, your future, your confidence. However I leaned into my work, my religion, and the folks round me. I reminded myself, “I constructed this confidence. No person gave it to me, and no one can take it away.” That stretch may’ve damaged me, however I didn’t let it. I’m happy with how I got here by that, it made me more durable, extra centered, and hungrier than ever.
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KS: Completely. At Cal Poly, you began to really feel that dropping grew to become regular for some guys, and that’s harmful. It kills your power, your fireplace. At Nevada, that tradition flipped. On daily basis, we have been anticipated to compete and win, whether or not it was a sport, a drill, or movie. That aggressive normal gave me life once more. I matched that power and introduced my very own fireplace. Whether or not we have been up or down, my effort by no means modified. That setting helped me rediscover myself and jogged my memory of what I like concerning the sport.
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KS: Staying sharp in each space. Staying in form bodily, but in addition maintaining my thoughts clear. Groups need to see if I can guard a number of positions, if I can hit photographs, and if I could make the fitting reads in game-speed conditions. However past that, they need to see how I carry myself. Can I be a communicator? Can I make successful performs? Can I elevate a workforce? I’ve simply centered on being myself and letting my IQ and flexibility converse. I’m prepared for any alternative they throw at me.
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KS: That I gave it all the pieces I had, each follow, each sport, each movie session. That I liked the sport and confirmed it by how I performed and the way I handled folks. I need to be remembered as a man who introduced power, who cared, and who made folks round him higher. Not simply somebody who scored or made performs, however somebody who left a constructive influence on each workforce, each locker room. If I can end my profession with no regrets and relationships I constructed by the sport, I’ll be proud.
