Indiana Basketball: Hoosiers keeping an eye on intriguing 2020 prospect

Indiana basketball’s 2020 recruiting class could be shaping up to be a good one, as they continue to build relationships with many prospects, including this four-star guard.

A busy first week in May continues to have the Indiana basketball staff in contact with many 2020 prospects.

One of the more intriguing prospects in the 2020 class, Mike Saunders Jr has been a rising prospect since the end of his junior season.

Saunders, originally from the Midwest and Lawrence North, currently plays his high school basketball for Wasatch Academy out in Utah and runs with G3 Grind on the Under Armour Association.

Known for his leadership ability on the floor, Saunders is great in transition and tremendous when it comes to his decision making and playmaking for teammates. On the other end of the floor, he is also a feisty and in your face defender.

With his good play to start the summer, Saunders has received looks from high-major coaches.

In 12 games thus far in the UAA season, he has averaged 13.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.  One major knock in Saunders’ game though is the inconsistent jump shot.

Shooting just 20 percent (6-for-30) from three and 56 percent (40-for-72) from the line, in order to take his game to the next level, shooting is something Saunders must work on to get his percentages up to a respectable number.

Not only has Coach Miller seen him play, but a few other members of the staff have as well, making sure to track the soon-to-be senior throughout his AAU season.

On his relationship with Indiana and the atmosphere in Assembly Hall, Saunders told InsideTheHall.com,

"“I’ve been to a couple of Indiana games and I can just tell that everybody in the area is a diehard fan. A lot of the fans are so supportive of the team whether they’re doing good or bad. They’re always going to be behind them. I really like that aspect of Indiana. And the fact that it is home. I wouldn’t mind coming back home. It’s a very good atmosphere. I’ve always liked the basketball there.”"

Averaging 11.8 points, 4.3 assists and 2.0 steals per game during his junior year at Wasatch, Saunders has offers from many mid-majors including Toledo, Cleveland State and VCU amongst others, and just recently has received offers from Cincinnati and Depaul.

Ranked just No. 203 in the country according to 247Sports, he did crack the newest rankings of the ESPN Top 100, at No. 96.

Though he is out west now, he hasn’t necessarily ruled out retuning to the midwest, particularly Indiana, for college, saying “I’ll pick the best fit for me. I don’t think it matters regionally where I go.”