Wesley Saunders

Wesley Saunders (born June 16, 1993) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Memphis Hustle of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Harvard Crimson.

For the National Football League player, see Weslye Saunders.
Wesley Saunders
Free agent
PositionShooting guard / small forward
Personal information
Born (1993-06-16) June 16, 1993
Los Angeles, California
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight218 lb (99 kg)
Career information
High schoolWindward (Mar Vista, California)
CollegeHarvard (2011–2015)
NBA draft2015: undrafted
Playing career2015–present
Career history
2015–2016Westchester Knicks
2016Austin Spurs
2016–2017Windy City Bulls
2017–2018Joensuun Kataja
2018–2020Vanoli Cremona
2020Monaco
2020–2021Fortitudo Bologna
2021–2022Dolomiti Energia Trento
2022–2023Santa Cruz Warriors
2023Ontario Clippers
2023Memphis Hustle
Career highlights and awards

Early life

Saunders lettered in basketball and volleyball at Windward High serving as basketball captain during his senior year. On that season he averaged 20.2 points and 10 rebounds per game and helped his team to win Division IV's state basketball, after winning the State Championship for Division V as a sophomore.[1]

College career

In his four-year career at Harvard, Saunders averaged 12.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.5 steals over 29.8 minutes in 120 games, and averaged career-highs of 16.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists as a senior,[2] earning the Ivy League Player of the Year in 2014[3] alongside his third All-Ivy League first-team selection.[2]

Professional career

Westchester Knicks (2015–2016)

After going undrafted in the 2015 NBA draft, Saunders joined the Utah Jazz for the 2015 NBA Summer League.[4] On September 10, 2015, he signed with the New York Knicks.[2] However, he was later waived by the Knicks on October 23 after appearing in two preseason games.[5] On November 2, he was acquired by the Westchester Knicks of the NBA Development League as an affiliate player of New York.[6] On November 12, he made his professional debut in a 105–103 win over the Maine Red Claws, recording two points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal in 13 minutes off the bench.[7]

Austin Spurs (2016)

On February 23, 2016, he was traded to the Austin Spurs in exchange for Keith Wright.[8] On March 24, he made his debut for Austin in a 106–93 win over the Texas Legends, recording one rebound in two minutes off the bench.[9]

Windy City Bulls (2016–2017)

On August 24, 2016, Saunders' D-League rights were acquired by the Windy City Bulls in the expansion draft[10] and on October 30, he was officially signed by Windy City.[11]

On July 26, 2018, Saunders signed a deal with the Italian club Vanoli Cremona.[12]

On July 30, 2020, he has signed with As Monaco of the LNB Pro A[13] but resigned shortly after the beginning of the season.

Coach Sacchetti, who coached him the two years in Vanoli Cremona before he moved to coach Fortitudo Bologna, inked Saunders in Bologna on November 4, 2020.[14] He parted ways with the team on June 30, 2021.[15]

On August 13, 2021, he has signed with Dolomiti Energia Trento of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA).[16]

Santa Cruz Warriors (2022–2023)

On December 20, 2022, Saunders was acquired by the Santa Cruz Warriors.[17] On January 18, 2023, Saunders was waived.[18]

Ontario Clippers (2023)

On January 20, 2023, Saunders was acquired by the Ontario Clippers.[19] On March 1, 2023, Saunders was waived.[20]

Personal life

Saunders' father, Ed, played defensive back at Iowa and graduated in 1977, while his uncle, John, played professional football with the Los Angeles Rams and was drafted in the fourth round of the 1972 NFL draft.[1]

References
  1. "Wesley Saunders – Harvard". GoCrimson.com. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  2. "Knicks Sign Darion Atkins and Wesley Saunders". NBA.com. September 10, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  3. "Men's Basketball All-Ivy 2013–14". Ivy League. March 12, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  4. "2015 Summer League Player Profile – Wesley Saunders". NBA.com. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  5. "Knicks Waive Five Players". NBA.com. October 23, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  6. "Westchester Knicks Finalize 2015-16 Training Camp Roster". OurSportsCentral.com. November 2, 2015. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  7. "Summers' Late Winner Lifts Westchester Knicks Over Maine Red Claws". NBA.com. November 12, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
  8. "Austin Spurs Trade with Westchester Knicks". OurSportsCentral.com. February 23, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  9. "Summers' Late Winner Lifts Westchester Knicks Over Maine Red Claws". NBA.com. March 24, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  10. "2016 NBA Development League Expansion Draft Results". NBA.com. August 24, 2016. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  11. "Windy City Bulls Select Four Players in 2016 D-League Draft to Complete Training Camp Roster". NBA.com. October 30, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  12. "Wesley Saunders signs with Vanoli Cremona". Sportando.basketball. July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  13. Maggi, Alessandro (July 30, 2020). "AS Monaco Basket officially signs Wesley Saunders". Sportando. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  14. "Wesley Saunders è un nuovo giocatore della Fortitudo Lavoropiù!" (in Italian). fortitudo103.it. 4 November 2020.
  15. Carchia, Emiliano (June 30, 2021). "Fortitudo Bologna opts out of Wesley Saunders' contract". Sportando. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  16. Skerletic, Dario (August 13, 2021). "Dolomiti Energia Trento inks Wesley Saunders". Sportando. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  17. "2022-23 NBA G League Transactions". gleague.nba.com. December 20, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  18. "2022-23 NBA G League Transactions". gleague.nba.com. January 18, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  19. "2022-23 NBA G League Transactions". gleague.nba.com. January 20, 2023. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  20. "2022-23 NBA G League Transactions". gleague.nba.com. March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
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