Former Wasatch Academy, Cincinnati G Mike Saunders Jr. Commits To Utah Basketball
Apr 2, 2022, 4:34 PM
Mike Saunders Jr. #3 of the Cincinnati Bearcats takes a defensive stance against the Houston Cougars in the first half of the American Athletic Conference Mens Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals at Dickies Arena on March 11, 2022 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Former Wasatch Academy standout and Cincinnati Bearcats guard Mike Saunders Jr. will transfer to the Utah basketball program.
This is a big time pickup for Craig Smith as Mike Saunders Jr. will be a great asset in the backcourt for Utah basketball.
Saunders Jr. announced his decision to join the Runnin’ Utes via Twitter on Saturday afternoon. He will reunite with Bearcats teammate Gabe Madsen.
#GoUtes 👹 pic.twitter.com/00U9kbnroo
— Mike Saunders Jr. (@icemikeg3) April 2, 2022
Saunders Jr. started in 10 of 22 games played as a freshman during the 2020-21 season and posted averages of 3.5 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game in 15.3 minutes per game. As a sophomore this past season, Saunders Jr. played all 33 games off the bench and averaged 7.3 points per game in 20.4 minutes per contest.
He was the fastest on the team, sprinting three-quarters of the court in 2.91.
At Wasatch Academy, Saunders Jr. averaged 14.4 points, 3.6 assists and 2.1 steals per game as a senior, leading the Tigers to a 27-2 record and a top 5 national ranking. Coming out of high school in the 2020 recruiting class, Saunders Jr. received offers from Cincinnati, DePaul, Georgia State, Indiana State, IUPUI, Northern Kentucky, Stephen F. Austin, UT Martin and VCU.
During the transfer portal recruiting process, Saunders Jr. received interest from BYU, Miami, UNLV, Utah, Wichita State, Santa Clara, Iona, Grand Canyon, Nevada, Cal, Wyoming, Duquesne, Tulsa, Winthrop, among others.
Utah will return Rollie Worster, Both Gach, Jaxon Brenchley, Gabe Madsen and Lazar Stefanovic on the guard line. David Jenkins Jr. entered the transfer portal shortly after their season concluded.
Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports.
