Larry Sanders, born on November 21, 1988, in Fort Pierce, Florida, didn’t start playing organized basketball until his teenage years. Originally drawn to art and design, Sanders quickly made a name for himself at Port St. Lucie High School, earning all-state honors and leading his team to a district championship. His talent earned him a scholarship to Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), where he dominated from 2007 to 2010 as a defensive force under coach Anthony Grant. Averaging 8.4 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game, Sanders was twice named the Colonial Athletic Association’s Defensive Player of the Year and earned First-Team All-CAA honors in 2010 before declaring for the NBA Draft. The Milwaukee Bucks selected Sanders with the 15th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. After two years of development, he broke out in the 2012–13 season, posting career-high averages of 9.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game. His rim protection and shot-blocking skills made him one of the league’s most promising young centers.