Gardner-Webb Athletics Hall of Fame
Dynamic forward Thomas Sanders provided plenty of highlights during two seasons with the Runnin' Bulldogs basketball squad, earning 2008 Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year honors following his senior campaign. Sanders was an Associated Press honorable mention All-America selection that season and remains Gardner-Webb's lone Division I All-American in the sport of men's basketball. Sanders ranked third nationally in Division I in 2008 with 20 double-doubles and finished with averages of 18.0 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. In addition to his exploits on the court, Sanders was solid in the classroom, earning ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District III honors in 2008. Those were far from his only bright spots as a senior, as he led Gardner-Webb to a nationally televised upset at No. 20 Kentucky that garnered significant acclaim for the school. Sanders netted an impressive 910 career points and 555 rebounds, proving to be one of the most effective rebounders from the wing in program history. Following graduation, Sanders embarked on a successful professional career overseas.
