Staten Island, NY – Wagner College head men's basketball coach
Donald Copeland has announced the signings of
Ja'Kair Sanchez,
Zavier Fitch, and
Makhai Anderson. The trio joins former LIU guard
R.J. Greene, bringing the number of newcomers for the 2024-25 season to four.
"We're excited about our incoming class and can't wait to lay the foundation for a successful season this fall," Copeland commented. "All of our newcomers complement the returning players well and fit our philosophy of toughness and defense."
Sanchez transfers to Wagner after two years at Division II Roberts Wesleyan and most recently Minnesota State University Moorhead. In 2023-24, Sanchez earned Second Team All-NSIC honors after playing in all 31 games for MSUM with 14 starts. Sanchez averaged 12.5 points per game and 4.3 rebounds a contest while shooting 42 percent from the field, including a 42.2 connection rate from long range. Sanchez earned second-team All-East Coast Conference honors in 2021-22 after leading Roberts Wesleyan in scoring at 15.3 points per game.
Copeland on Sanchez: "Ja'Kair is not just a veteran player, but also someone who has proven that he can lead on and off the court. His shooting ability and playing style will give him a chance to contribute to our program early."
Fitch arrives on Grymes Hill after a standout career at Brother Rice High School in Chicago, where he participated in the The Illinois Basketball Coaches Association All-Star game and was named an All-CCL Second Team selection. The athletic 6-7 freshman hails from a basketball family, as his father Steve played basketball at Illinois State, while his sister Isis played at Bradley. At the AAU level, Fitch starred for Y&R.
Copeland on Fitch: "Zavier has all the physical tools to be a successful player at this level. He comes from a great high school program and has an excellent basketball IQ that will translate well to our program."
The Seahawks' most recent signee, Anderson comes to Wagner from the Solebury School in Pennsylvania. At the AAU level, Anderson played for We R 1. Known as an explosive athlete, Anderson averaged 23 points and 12 rebounds per game as a sophomore in high school.
Copeland on Anderson: "Makhai is a phenomenal athlete and his offensive ability paired with his defensive tenacity are rare for a player his age and exactly what we look for in a player. We're excited to see what he can do in our system.
