MANCHESTER, N.H. – Rodney Sanders (Linden, N.J.), a Southern New Hampshire University men's basketball alumni, was named to the D2 East Hoops All-Decade First Team on Friday, while former teammates Devin Gilligan and Chris Walters were both recognized as an Honorable Mention.
The All-Decade Team honored 65 Division II players from the East Region that played between 2010 and 2019, including a Player of the Decade, 10 First Team honorees, 10 Second Team selections and 44 honorable mention picks. The trio of Sanders, Gilligan and Walters played together for two seasons, producing a record of 47-19, while capturing an NCAA East Region title in 2014-15 and then a Northeast-10 Championship in 2015-16.
Sanders starred for the Penmen from 2012-16, capturing a pair of NE10 titles and earning three NCAA Tournament berths. Sanders finished his career fourth all-time in the program's record book in 3-point field goals made (254) and fifth in scoring (1,945). The lefty sniper averaged 15.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game in 122 contests over the course of his career, hitting on 49 percent of his field goals, including 44 percent from behind the arc, and 77 percent of his free throws. As a senior, Sanders poured in 20.1 points per game and joined the rare 50-50-80 club, as he shot 55 percent from the field, 52 percent from long distance and 88 percent from the stripe. As a junior and senior, Sanders earned both National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District First Team and Daktronics East All-Region Second Team honors. Sanders was a three-time NE10 All-Conference performer, including a First Team selection as both a junior and senior.
Gilligan, who played for SNHU from 2014-17 after transferring in from Augustana (S.D.) College, played in three NCAA Tournaments, including an Elite Eight, and a pair of NE10 title games. In his three seasons in a Penmen uniform, Gilligan amassed 1,275 points and 658 rebounds, while shooting 49 from the floor, 39 percent from downtown and 76 percent from the line. As a senior, Gilligan averaged 20.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists, as he made 58 percent of his field goals, including 45 percent from long range, and 80 percent of his free throws. Gilligan's 1,433 total collegiate points put him 20th on SNHU's all-time scoring list when he graduated. All of Gilligan's accolades came as a senior, when he was named an All-American by both the NABC and Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA), in addition to taking home D2CCA East Region Player of the Year and D2CCA East All-Region First Team Honors, NABC All-District First Team accolades, and NE10 Player of the Year and NE10 First Team selections.
Walters spent five seasons with the Penmen from 2013-18, playing on three NCAA Tournament teams and advancing to a pair of NE10 title tilts. Walters recorded 1,875 points, 907 rebounds, 184 assists, 156 blocks and 144 steals, with a 49 percent field goal percentage, including 37 from beyond the arc and an 80 percent free throw mark. As a senior, Walters registered 23.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.6 blocks per contest, while shooting 49 percent from the floor, 44 percent from deep and 86 percent from the stripe. Walters graduated ranked fourth all-time the program's record book for blocked shots, as well as seventh in rebounds and ninth in scoring. Walters was chosen as a D2CCA All-American, as well as an NABC All-District and D2CCA East All-Region First Team selection as a senior. He made both the NABC All-District and D2CCA East All-Region Second Team as a junior. Walters was a three-time NE10 All-Conference pick, including a First Teamer as a both a junior and senior.
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