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Wesley Saunders

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Wesley Saunders
NameWesley Saunders
PositionShooting guard / Small forward
Weight lb215
Birth date16 June 1993
Birth placeLos Angeles, California, U.S.
High schoolWindward School, (Los Angeles, California)
CollegeHarvard University (2011–2015)
Draft year2015
Career start2015
Career end2020
Years12015–2016
Team1Miami Heat
Years22016
Team2Sioux Falls Skyforce
Years32016–2017
Team3Iowa Energy
Years42017–2018
Team4Maccabi Ashdod
Years52018–2019
Team5Ionikos Nikaias
Years62019–2020
Team6Bnei Herzliya
Highlights* Ivy League Player of the Year (2014) * 3× First-team All-Ivy League (2013–2015) * Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year (2015) * Ivy League tournament MVP (2014)

Wesley Saunders is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Harvard Crimson, where he was a three-time first-team All-Ivy League selection and the 2014 Ivy League Player of the Year. Saunders played professionally in the NBA for the Miami Heat and in the NBA G League before continuing his career overseas in Israel and Greece.

Early life and education

Wesley Saunders was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He attended the Windward School, a prestigious private institution in Los Angeles, where he excelled both academically and on the basketball court. As a senior, he led the Windward Wildcats to a CIF Southern Section championship and was named the CIF Division IV Player of the Year. His performance attracted attention from several NCAA Division I programs, ultimately leading him to commit to Harvard University.

College basketball career

Saunders joined a burgeoning Harvard Crimson program under coach Tommy Amaker. He made an immediate impact, earning Ivy League Rookie of the Week honors multiple times during his freshman season. As a sophomore, he was named first-team All-Ivy League after averaging over 16 points per game. His junior year was historic, as he led the Crimson to the Ivy League regular-season title, was named the Ivy League Player of the Year, and earned Ivy League tournament MVP honors after leading Harvard to the conference tournament championship. In his senior season, he repeated as a first-team All-Ivy League selection and was also named the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year. He finished his career as a key figure in Harvard's four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.

Professional career

After going undrafted in the 2015 NBA draft, Saunders joined the Miami Heat for the 2015 NBA Summer League. He signed with the Heat in September 2015 and made his NBA debut that October. He was later assigned to the Heat's NBA G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. After being waived by the Miami Heat, he played for the Iowa Energy. In 2017, Saunders began his international career, signing with Maccabi Ashdod of the Israeli Basketball Premier League. He later played for Ionikos Nikaias in the Greek Basket League and concluded his professional tenure with Bnei Herzliya in Israel.

National team career

Saunders represented the United States in international competition. He was selected to play for the USA Basketball squad at the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia. The team, coached by Bob McKillop of Davidson College, competed against other national teams comprised of university athletes, with Saunders contributing as a versatile wing player.

Post-playing career

Following his retirement from professional basketball in 2020, Saunders transitioned into the business and finance sector. Leveraging the education he received at Harvard University, he pursued a career in investment and financial analysis. He has also remained connected to the sport through occasional youth coaching clinics and by participating in alumni events for the Harvard basketball program.

Personal life

Saunders comes from an athletic family; his father, also named Wesley Saunders, played college basketball at USC and was a draft pick of the Los Angeles Lakers in 1984. The younger Saunders majored in Sociology while at Harvard University. He is known for his community involvement, having participated in various charitable initiatives in both Los Angeles and Boston throughout his career.

Category:1993 births Category:Living people Category:American men's basketball players Category:Harvard Crimson men's basketball players Category:Ivy League Men's Basketball Players of the Year Category:Miami Heat players Category:Sioux Falls Skyforce players Category:Players of American basketball in Israel Category:Sportspeople from Los Angeles