At 6-foot-8 Kobe Sanders is a swingman with guard expertise and a defensive edge, as he turned heads all 12 months at Nevada. Sanders solidified his inventory on the 2025 Portsmouth Invitational Match, the place his really feel, dimension, and maturity stood out resulting in an invite to attend the 2025 NBA Draft Mix. Sanders grinded his manner by Cal Poly, evolving from a task participant into the workforce’s engine by his senior 12 months. 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’s storied Driscoll athletic lineage. His mom, Sara Sanders (née Driscoll), was a highschool hooper, and her 4 brothers all performed faculty ball. Three of them, Pat and Mike at North Dakota State, and Jim on the College of North Dakota, are of their respective colleges’ Halls of Fame. The fourth, Tom, additionally performed basketball and tennis at NDSU.
Their athletic legacy continued with the subsequent era. Cousins Jake and Jordan (Jim’s son) each performed at Minnesota State Moorhead (MSUM). Jordan was a standout in highschool, beginning as a freshman and lighting it up from deep. Their cousin Amber Abraham, daughter of Sara’s sister Kathy, is the one D1 athlete within the household, she performed 4 years at Arkansas State. Earlier than that, she scored over 900 factors in highschool, set a number of three-point information, and was later inducted into the Corridor of Fame.
A number of groups have already gotten a more in-depth look per HoopsHype’s Draft Workout 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 matches. 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 recreation developed underneath a brighter highlight and extra.
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KS: I began highschool at about 5-8. Me and my brother at all times educated to be guards, watching little guards like Allen Iverson and Marcus Paige. My dad had us learning movie, educating us to suppose the sport like level guards. Then yearly, I hit a progress spurt, by senior 12 months 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: Undoubtedly. Yearly my position modified. As a freshman, I used to be making an attempt to play protection and hit photographs. Sophomore 12 months, I turned extra of a defensive man. Junior 12 months is once I actually took the helm, I ran the offense, was the chief, facilitator, level guard. My senior 12 months, I did every part, I used to be the principle 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 12 months 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, generally I used to be on the one, generally the 4, relying on what the workforce wanted. That flexibility got here from how I used to be raised. My dad at all times informed me, “If you wish to be an actual level guard, you have to know each place, know what every man is considering and the place they should be.” That formed how I view the sport. So studying totally different positions didn’t simply assist me alter, it made every part simpler. My IQ saved evolving.
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KS: It was a easy transition as a result of I’d already performed that type of shifting earlier in my profession. However the massive factor was protection. I knew early on that to get on the ground, I needed to defend. My sophomore 12 months, me and a teammate would problem ourselves to select up full courtroom each time we checked in. I used to be guarding guys 94 toes, smaller guards, simply making an attempt to make my mark. That effort caught with me. I took each matchup personally. That turned my id, 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, they usually 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 wish to fall into that. I simply stayed true to my recreation, competed, performed with power on each ends, and let my coronary heart present. I believe individuals noticed that I belonged. It wasn’t about placing up wild numbers, it was about displaying I can impression the sport in each manner 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 straightforward. I went by some actual lows at Cal Poly, and people moments taught me tips on how to grind. I’ve needed to struggle by shedding 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 on the lookout for, 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 capturing it properly or end scorching, however by no means actually maintain it throughout a full 12 months. 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 wish 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 recreation second nature.
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KS: Taking pictures, for certain. Individuals look at a stat sheet and suppose they know your shot, but it surely doesn’t at all times present the entire image. In exercises, I’ve been capable of actually present groups the best way I shoot, the footwork, the discharge, the power to hit off motion. Quite a lot of groups walked away saying, “We didn’t know he might shoot like that.” I believe I’ve opened some eyes with that.
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KS: Development, in each sense. Being round a profitable tradition once more helped reset me. Coach Steve Alford runs powerful practices, high-level, structured, detailed. Coach Noodles is identical manner. You’ve acquired to point out up locked in day-after-day, no excuses. I realized tips on how to be constant, tips on how to be a frontrunner, and tips on how to increase 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 every part.
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KS: It means every part. Cal Poly’s by no means had a participant drafted, so simply having that chance is a blessing. I wish to be that man who breaks that barrier, not only for myself, however to point out that you could 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 wish to signify all three the appropriate manner and open the door for the subsequent child who’s being missed.
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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 underneath LA, and the 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 satisfaction, that edge. I play for my metropolis each time I step on the ground. I wish to be a voice for all these children who haven’t been seen but.
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KS: Undoubtedly 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 really 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 seemed 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 had been intense, they usually pressured me to boost my stage. It was aggressive day-after-day. That early AAU expertise helped form my mentality, tips on how to put together, tips on how to compete, and tips on how 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 every part to me. However after going by what I did at Cal Poly, Nevada felt like the appropriate reset. It was nonetheless on the West Coast, however simply far sufficient that it was a brand new setting. It wasn’t straightforward being away from dwelling, however my “why” was my household, my religion, was at all times only a cellphone name away. They saved me grounded. That shift gave me house to develop and focus, and being in a brand new tradition like Nevada’s, the place profitable mattered, was precisely what I wanted.
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KS: I research numerous Jalen Williams from OKC. He performs the sport the appropriate manner, he’s easy, managed, performs each ends, and doesn’t pressure something. He creates house, scores throughout the stream, 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 wish to be in, the place IQ and belief matter.
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KS: I take items from numerous guys. CJ McCollum, his potential to make use of angles, how he alters 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 underneath strain. Defensively, I watch how larger guards use their size and anticipation to impression performs. I’m at all times watching, looking for the little issues, particulars most individuals miss and work out tips on how to add them to my very own recreation.
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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 cellular. On the courtroom, I’m practising being each the handler and the screener in actions, pick-and-roll, DHO, off-ball motion. Defensively, I’m guarding 1 by 4, studying totally different reads, and dealing on switches and closeouts. I wish 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 courtroom.
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KS: Little doubt, my time at Cal Poly. Dropping 39 straight convention video games, that does one thing to you mentally. You begin to query every part, your recreation, your future, your confidence. However I leaned into my work, my religion, and the individuals round me. I reminded myself, “I constructed this confidence. No person gave it to me, and no person can take it away.” That stretch might’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 targeted, and hungrier than ever.
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KS: Completely. At Cal Poly, you began to really feel that shedding turned regular for some guys, and that’s harmful. It kills your power, your fireplace. At Nevada, that tradition flipped. Each day, we had been anticipated to compete and win, whether or not it was a recreation, a drill, or movie. That aggressive customary gave me life once more. I matched that power and introduced my very own fireplace. Whether or not we had been up or down, my effort by no means modified. That setting helped me rediscover myself and jogged my memory of what I really like in regards to the recreation.
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KS: Staying sharp in each space. Staying in form bodily, but additionally preserving my thoughts clear. Groups wish to see if I can guard a number of positions, if I can hit photographs, and if I could make the appropriate reads in game-speed conditions. However past that, they wish to see how I carry myself. Can I be a communicator? Can I make profitable performs? Can I elevate a workforce? I’ve simply targeted on being myself and letting my IQ and flexibility communicate. I’m prepared for any alternative they throw at me.
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KS: That I gave it every part I had, each follow, each recreation, each movie session. That I cherished the sport and confirmed it by how I performed and the way I handled individuals. I wish to be remembered as a man who introduced power, who cared, and who made individuals round him higher. Not simply somebody who scored or made performs, however somebody who left a constructive impression 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.
