Becoming the best college basketball player you can be is often attributed to many factors, but finding the right fit for your talents may be the most important. Sometimes, the right place doesn’t always seem obvious, but taking a risk can pay off.
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Wanting to play pro basketball, choosing Harvard may not have been an obvious choice for Wesley Saunders, but after a stellar career, he is on the brink of achieving just that. Tommy Amaker has built a very good basketball program in Cambridge, but the success is still a recent phenomenon, and there was no guarantee it would continue. Watching Saunders’ development over the last four years is a big endorsement for the Crimson program.
A 6’5 guard out of Los Angeles, Saunders played a small role as a freshman before making a major impact as a sophomore, averaging 16 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, and starting a streak of what would become three straight First Team All-Ivy League selections.
After his junior season, Saunders was named Ivy League Player of the Year, and though he wasn’t able to repeat as a senior, he finished his career by putting up his best numbers in almost every category. He averaged 16.6 points, 6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, as the Crimson finished the season 22-8. Saunders also hit more three-point shots, 31, than he did in the past three seasons combined, while hitting 42 percent.
Now, after four years playing at Harvard, Saunders is able to appreciate how he’s developed as a player. “The way I think about the game, and how I approach it, has definitely changed,” said Saunders. “Coach Amaker is a perfectionist, and stressed hard work and attention to detail.”
Saunders also sees how spending his college years at Harvard shaped the person he’s become. “I had to make a lot of adjustments when I got to school,” explained Saunders. “Dealing with things like east coast weather and being on my own all helped me as I matured into an adult. Being around so many great, smart people definitely made the process easier.”
Looking past just the opportunity to play basketball in college, Saunders saw a great opportunity, and challenge, in choosing to attend Harvard. “A big part of my decision was definitely Harvard’s reputation, and I fell in love with the school when I visited,” Saunders said. “Also, Coach Amaker challenged me to come to Harvard. He was very clear that it would be difficult, but also stressed the challenge of taking the road less traveled and becoming a better basketball player while being a top student.”
Saunders took the challenge, and he became an integral part of a Harvard program which won 99 games in his four seasons, including four straight NCAA Tournament appearances, the Crimson’s first since 1946.
After making their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2012, the Crimson raised the stakes, winning their first NCAA Tournament game in 2013, beating number 3 seed New Mexico, and followed it up in 2014, knocking off number 5 seed Cincinnati in the Round of 64.
This past season, the Crimson gave North Carolina all it could handle in the Round of 64, losing 67-65 in one of the tournament’s most exciting games. Saunders did all he could to try and get that win, finishing the game with 26 points, on 8 of 14 shooting, along with 4 rebounds and 5 assists.
Harvard now had a national reputation as a basketball school, and Saunders was thrilled to be a part of it all. “It was a great feeling being a part of seeing how much the program has grown,” Saunders said. “It started right before I got there, with guys like Jeremy (Lin), but once we started winning regularly, it was amazing to see how the school support got bigger, and people started gravitating towards the team.”
With more attention on the basketball program, it meant more pro scouts would be attending games, and Saunders has a good understanding of why pro teams are interested in him. “My versatility, especially on offense, is definitely a strong part to my game,” explained Saunders. “Being able to make plays for others is important, as well as my ability to get to the basket and to the free throw line.”
Saunders had a great opportunity to show NBA teams what he was capable of while taking part in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. He averaged over 6points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists per game, as his team won the tournament championship.
“Portsmouth was a great experience and opportunity to play with a lot of great players,” said Saunders. “I liked being able to go out there and show that I can play with anybody, while winning a championship. Plus, getting to talk to all of the scouts and general managers, I learned a lot from them about how they see me, what I do well, and where I need to put in work.”
Saunders has been training out in Los Angeles as he prepares for NBA workouts, the first which was yesterday for the Philadelphia 76ers. He’s taken the NBA feedback to heart and has been focusing on improving in some key areas.
“It’s important for me to work on my quickness and agility, things like my first step and lateral quickness,” Saunders said. “Shooting’s important, and you can never be too good of a shooter. I’ve been working on being able to consistently knock down NBA threes.”
Saunders knows that getting to the NBA is a tough road, and even once you get there, the work doesn’t stop. He sees his opportunity and knows how he can help teams. “Coming into the NBA, just a select few are stars, and the others have to contribute how they can,” said Saunders. “I think my versatility allows me to be a great role player and fit into a lot of different systems.”
There’s a lot of competition to get to the NBA, but Saunders knows that he’s ready for his shot, and has what it takes to make it. “I feel like I’m the most versatile player in this class, especially when you see so many specialized players and athletes,” said Saunders. “Playing four years, I’ve developed my game, and my understanding of it, and I’ve been able to play in a lot of different situations.”
“I went to Harvard, but I’m not a typical Ivy League player. I’m ready to compete and do everything a team needs me to do to help them succeed.”
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