Josiah Sanders, the No. 1 ranked player in North Carolina's 2026 class, breaks down his recruitment

Josiah Sanders came in at No. 47 overall in the latest 2026 On3 150 ranking update. The 6-foot-7 wing at Fayetteville (NC) Berean Baptist averaged 12.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.3 steals while shooting 61.4 percent from the field and 90.0 percent from the free throw line for the Team Loaded VA program on the Adidas 3SSB 16u Circuit.

“Getting downhill with the ball and helping my teammates off the ball,” Sanders told On3. “That’s kind of my game, being a floor general. Being able to space the floor, and now I’m knocking down the three ball which has really opened up the game for me. I watch a lot of Michael Beasley and Paul George. Beasley with his ability to get downhill, get to his spots, and play in the mid-range, and George has such a smooth game that gets the job done.

On3 caught up with four-star Josiah Sanders recently after a live viewing to discuss the latest in his recruitment.

“Right now, I have offers from Georgetown, Rutgers, Iowa, VCU, and some others,” Sanders said. “I just got back from a visit to VCU this weekend.”

Sanders talks VCU

“I learned a lot of new things about them,” Sanders said. “It was actually my first time going on campus. Their team is good, they like to get out and run the floor. Coach (Bryce) Crawford is an amazing guy, so I enjoy the connection I have with him. Their facility is great, you can get in there anytime and just worry about getting better

“They like that I can do everything, facilitate for my teammates, score the ball, and they like that I’m a versatile defender, guarding on or off the ball, playing help side, and how I talk.”

Josiah Sanders breaks down offers

IOWA: “I have a great connection with Coach (Tristan) Spurlock. I haven’t been able to get out there yet, but we are going to get out there for sure. I like their guys, their team. They really play out of their threes and fours, which is why I’ve been looking into them recently. They had the (Murray) brothers there, they’ve had taller guys who can get downhill.”

GEORGETOWN: “Things have been great with Georgetown. I got a good connection with Coach (Jeff) Battle. They’re trying to get me up there on a visit soon. I don’t know too much about the program yet, but I do know they’re looking for guys who can defend the ball and they will let you play your game.”

RUTGERS: “Rutgers, such a great school, man, a good program. Coach (TJ) Thompson is really the one I’ve been talking to the most recently. They’re really building something, they got Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper this year. They aren’t going to be there forever, so they’re trying to get some new guys to come in and they want to build a team around me, as well.”

“We’re hearing from NC State, I went on an unofficial visit there, they haven’t offered yet through,” Sanders said. “We’re hearing from Utah and UNC, too, a few others as well, but those are the ones we hear from the most right now.”

In his words

“I want to go somewhere that will allow me to play my game, but also get better at my game,” Sanders said. “I don’t want to go somewhere that tries to change how I play, but go somewhere that will make me the best of what I do. I’d like to go somewhere I know I can get stronger and a place that will grow me as a leader and a man.

“I prefer to play out on the wing, which allows me to create in space and get downhill to make a play, which is my strong point. But if the system fits and they want me to be on the ball, I can do that too.”