Aside from Caitlin Clark, the recently completed college women’s basketball season was highlighted by dynamic freshmen stepping into the spotlight. USC’s JuJu Watkins, Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo, Texas’ Madison Booker, South Carolina’s MiLaysia Fulwiley and LSU’s Mikaylah Williams headlined a remarkable class of freshmen.
Colorado, meanwhile, has its own class of 2023 recruit that it believes will make a significant impact, but Kennedy Sanders has had to wait her turn.
A 5-foot-8 point guard from Chaska, Minn., Sanders redshirted this past season as the Buffs (24-10) reached the Sweet 16 for the second year in a row and she’s eager to make her mark next season.
“A lot of it will depend on her foot and being able to stay healthy, but she’s not having any issues and feels good and I think now we’re past that,” CU head coach JR Payne said. “I think she’s going to be a great player.”
Rated No. 75 on ESPN’s list of top 100 recruits for 2023, Sanders was a three-time first-team all-conference selection at Chaska High School. She scored 1,918 points in high school and averaged 17.3 points on the AAU circuit in 2022.
After breaking her foot last May, however, Sanders spent last season redshirting, rehabilitating, and acclimating to the college game.
“It was good. It was a little interesting,” she said of not playing any games this past season. “Definitely different, but it was kind of nice to like be able to redshirt and just watch how the girls play and practice.”
Sanders was healthy enough to practice, but she and coaches felt that she would benefit from a redshirt year, especially with the Buffs loaded with veterans.
“I thought it was a good choice,” Sanders said. “I talked with the coaches and they also thought it would be better for me and obviously just being so far back (from the injury) and just not having any experience and all these girls had experience.”
Like most athletes who go through a redshirt year, Sanders struggled at times with not getting the reward of playing in games. But, she’s glad she went through the experience.
“I knew I had to work hard and make sure that I’m putting in the time and the effort so that I can be ready for next year,” she said. “It feels like you’re not really a part of the team (at times), but just seeing my growth, especially coming back from my foot and everything it’s been good.”
Now, Sanders is one of the veterans on the team. Of the 17 players on this last season’s team, there are only four who are set to come back, including Sanders. (Senior guard Tameiya Sadler also might return).
Sanders was one of five freshmen this past season, but the other four have elected to transfer.
“It’s definitely weird,” she said. “The people that I came with and worked out with the whole year, they’re gonna be gone, but I would just say leaning on Kindyll (Wetta) and those upperclassmen just to be able to know I fit in here and, like, it’s gonna be fine.”
Wetta, who will be a senior next season, has taken Sanders under her wing, as both play point guard and share similar traits.
“They’re working out together every day this spring and they’re doing a great job,” Payne said. “I mean, if anyone can be a great role model, it’s gonna be Kindyll. … Kennedy is very similar; she’s a very good student, engaged, active, wants to be great, is unafraid of hard work, all of those things.”
One of the vocal leaders on the team, Wetta has helped Sanders grow in that area, because communication has not been a strength.
“I’m very quiet,” Sanders said.
Better on-court communication, stronger passing and refining her shot are top areas of focus for Sanders this offseason.
The level of Sanders’ impact remains to be seen, but there’s no question she’ll fight for a role as one of CU’s several versatile guards.
“I think she has a lot of great attributes,” Payne said. “She can shoot the ball really, really well. She’s very crafty. … Different than (graduated senior Jaylyn Sherrod) and Kindyll in that she’s not just going to just blow by you; not that she’s not fast enough, but she’s much shiftier than they were. And so I think that’s a different dynamic that she’ll bring.”
