Pallacanestro Olimpia EA7 – Emporio Armani Milanoagreed on terms with Rakim Sanders, born on July 8, 1989, in Pawtucket (Rhode Island). Sanders is a guard-forward, 1.93 mt. tall,who played in Sassari last season when he was named playoffs’ MVP. Sanders right now is not available because of a hand injury. He’ll be in Milano by the end of the month to complete the rehabilitation process and will be available again during the month of January.
HIS CAREER – A Rhode Island native, he attended St.Andrew’s High School and was named post-season state tournament’s Mvp two years in a row. He was also Rhode Island’s Player of the Year in 2007. Eventually he played three seasons at the Boston College: in 2007/08 he started 31 times and averaged 11.4 points per game while scoring 20 or more points five times; in 2008/09 he averged 12.9 points per game and in 2009/10 he had 11.3 points per game during the course of a season partially ruined by an ankle injuiry. During the summer of 2010 he left the Boston College to move to Fairfield following his mentor Ed Cooley (a former BC’s assistant coach). He had to sit out a year according to the NCAA rules and when he was eligible again, the new Fairfield coach was Sidney Johnson. With the Stags he averaged 16.6 points per game while graabind 8.2 rebounds. At the end of the season he participated to the Portsouth Predraft Camp where he scored 19.3 points on average. His first professional season took place in Israel, at Galil Gilboa (12.6 points pe rgame, 38.2% from three). He moved to Bamberg next where he averaged 7.9points per game in Euroleague play, 12.5 in Eurocup play and 9.1 in the German League. During the summer of 2014 he signed for Sassari where he helped the team winning the Supercup, the Italy Cup and the Italian League. He averaged 12.3 points per game in Italy (36.1% from three) and 13.4 in Euroleague. He was playoff’s MVP.
NOTES – His Fairfield coach, Sidney Johnson, has played for Olimpia Milano too… One of the All-Time greatest Fairfield players was Arthur Kenney whose jersey has been retired by Olimpia… Rakim was All-MAAC first team in 2012… His points total at Farfield was 615, the second highest in the school history after Tony George scored 630 in 1985/86… He’s been the only Fairfield player to score at least 600 points and grab 300 rebounds in a single season.
