Nicholas Sanders Class: Senior Hometown: Leavenworth, Kan. High School: Leavenworth H.S. Height / Weight: 6-7 / 215 Position: F

GENERAL: Furman's most experienced player and member of a three-man senior class...helps form a contingent of three returning starters...blue collar-type performer who plays with the most intensity and hustle of any player in the Furman program...effort compliments good rebounding ability...ranks as the team's top interior defender...unselfish performer who possesses a strong understanding of the game and excellent court savvy...is an underrated passer...vocal leader on and off the court...has served a public address announcer at Furman volleyball, softball, soccer, and baseball events over the past year.

AS A JUNIOR (2003-04): Fashioned a solid first full season as a starter, earning nods in all 29 games at power forward and averaging 6.2 points and a team leading 6.1 rebounds per game...strong, consistent play helped key Furman to a 17-12 record and 8-8 Southern Conference mark...collected 75 assists (third highest total on team) while only committing 40 turnovers...registered 46 assists and only 18 turnovers of the Paladins' final 14 games (9-5)...registered a career high 11 points on three occasions: vs. Minnesota (91-84 overtime loss), College of Charleston (70-65 loss), and Wofford (91-55 win)...recorded a career high 12 rebounds in Paladins' final game of the season, a 94-84 loss to East Tennessee State in quarterfinals of Southern Conference Tournament....campaign included a pair of double-doubles: 10 points/11 rebounds vs. Northern Iowa (65-55 win) and 10 points (6x6 FTs)/11 rebounds vs. East Tennessee State (69-68 loss)...notched a career high six assists (no turnovers) in 28 minutes of action to key Furman's 77-72 victory over Georgia Southern in Statesboro and snap the Eagles' 13-game winning streak. AS A SOPHOMORE (2002-03): Saw action in all 31 games and earned starts in two contests...averaged only 2.9 ppg but chipped in a solid 4.0 rpg in his second season in a Paladin uniform...contributed six points, seven rebounds, and a block in 17 minutes of action in an 84-71 win over eventual Southern Conference Tournament champion East Tennessee State in Johnson City...victory over ETSU highlighted a 5-0 regular season finish for the Paladins...claimed eight rebounds against both Methodist (83-29 win) and at Louisville (104-63 loss).

AS A FRESHMAN (2001-02): Although statistically did not produce big numbers, proved to be a key addition to a Furman team that went 17-14, posted the program's first winning season since 1992-93, and played its way into the league tournament championship for the first time since 1980...entered preseason practice as a prime redshirt candidate due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament sustained late in his senior prep season, but dedication and exemplary rehabilitation work enabled him to return to action earlier than expected...ended up seeing action in all 31 games and earning 13 starts...starts came in first half of season...averaged 18.7 minutes per game....had more assists (25) than turnovers (24), a rare plus for a freshman frontcourt player...registered a season high nine rebounds in 69-58 win over UNC Asheville...came back in the next game to score a season high 10 points and claim six rebounds versus Emory (87-54 win...contributed six points and seven rebounds in 78-75 triumph over Campbell in only his second career start.

HIGH SCHOOL: 2001 graduate of Leavenworth High School...basketball coach was Larry Hogan...averaged 11.6 points and 8.5 rebounds per game and earned second team 6A all-state honors his senior year...team went 17-4 and won Sunflower League championship...helped pace his squad to 23-2 record and state championship his junior year, averaging 10.4 points and 7.0 rebounds per game...two-time all-league selection.

PERSONAL: Full name is Nicholas Ray Sanders...son of Carol Winans and Ron Sanders...born December 25, 1982, in Leavenworth, Kansas...has two sisters, Alicia and Krissie...economics major.