The Phenom Hardwood Classic has come and gone, and the amount of talent on the court for the event was impressive. It provided our scouts to get more eyes on players to watch for, and one player that I was personally excited about watching more was 2026 6’7 Josiah Sanders.
Sanders was one that grabbed our attention in June with Berean Baptist Academy, and he backed it up with Boo Williams as he is clearly one to really start tracking more in the Class of 2026.
So, what makes him so interesting' Well, when you talk about his game, his sheer size at 6’7 is impressive for a player his age. But it is also how he can operate and be used on the court. He has shown countless times that he can look to run the show and offense, doing so for his high school team and helping out with Boo Williams this past weekend. He can be an incredibly tough matchup at that position, as he is able to body up opponents and be a reliable playmaker with the ball in his hands.
Sanders is comfortable in leading the charge, creating and using his frame to be physical, has a nice early feel, and shows a good blend of IQ and feel with the ball in his hands. By finishing over or through defenders, but also simply managing the show, Sanders is comfortable doing both. But he also can play off the ball and play/defend multiple positions on the floor.
Here is what Sanders had to say about how he likes to operate and provide on the court:
“I would best describe my game by saying I’m a floor general keeping control of the game, keeping my teammates involved, moving without the ball, and being a very clutch player. Just staying at my own pace, not letting the defense speed me up but also being able to defend on all levels no matter the height or speed. I feel like a matchup nightmare taking little guards down low and bringing out the big to beat him off the dribble.”
Though it is still early, Sanders has already earned recognition for his play and intrigue, as schools like Elizabeth City State, Hampton, and Coastal Carolina have all offered. And speaking with Sanders, he mentioned that schools like East Carolina, UNCG, UCF, and Clemson have expressed early interest as well.
One thing is for sure though, he is one that should be big on your watch list.