Former St. John's standout Orlando Sanchez lived dirt-poor in the Dominican Republic until he was 20. He landed in Westchester to attend Monroe College in New Rochelle for two years, then got his big shot in Queens.
Sanchez is now back in Westchester, and the athletic 6-foot-9 power forward may just stay in Westchester.
As his wild ride that featured a battle with the NCAA over eligibility and a stint on the Dominican Republic's national team continues, the 26-year-old Sanchez, improbably, will be part of Knicks training camp starting with media day Monday in Tarrytown.
That Sanchez was signed by the Knicks is nothing short of shocking. After a slightly disappointing one-year stint at St. John's, he wasn't drafted after a series of pre-draft workouts with NBA teams because of his age, then wasn't signed to anyone's summer-league team.
According to a source, Knicks brass considered bringing Sanchez to Las Vegas but didn't. President Phil Jackson hadn't seen enough of him. Sanchez, who has a high skill level for a big man, averaged 7.4 points and 5.6 rebounds for the Red Storm last season. The Clippers showed interest but never made a summer-league offer.
"Tells you a little something — not that he didn't get drafted, but wasn't playing on a summer-league team,'' one NBA scout said.
After summer league, Allan Houston, general manager of the Knicks' new D-League affiliate in Westchester, fell in love with Sanchez after watching more tape. He envisioned Sanchez as a skilled big man, perfect for the triangle offense, to develop in Westchester — a player who just needed more coaching. The Knicks will need to fill the 2015-16 roster with a group of minimum-wage players to afford to fit a second superstar.
"He's been on the Knicks radar for a while because he was at St. John's,'' his agent BJ Bass said.
There's enough highlight plays of Sanchez using quickness and shot fakes to drive to the basket and finish. He also can run the break and hit the mid-range jumper to potentially be a force in Jackson's and coach Derek Fisher's triangle. Too often at St. John's, playing guard, stayed on the periphery and didn't always show a high motor.
Sanchez, who speaks limited English, has gotten a triangle lesson in the last week since most of the Knicks already are in Tarrytown for voluntary scrimmages.
"I think my game fits the triangle very well,'' Sanchez told The Post. "I've picked it up quickly so far. My ability to shoot, handle and pass shows in this offense. I would like to make the Knicks roster out of camp, but I also understand going to Westchester is a possibility. I think it would be a positive situation, because the team will practice at the Knicks facility and I can develop with the coaching staff.''
That the Knicks now have their D-League affiliate next door as opposed to in Ohio is a bonus to developing players such as Sanchez. That is why second-round pick Thanasis Antetokounmpo chose to sign with Westchester rather than play for a lot more money in Europe. Nevertheless, Antekumpo can't attend training camp because if he fails to make the 15-man NBA roster, the Knicks will lose his rights.)
"I wasn't too worried about not attending summer league,'' Sanchez said. "Veterans' camp is the real opportunity to earn a roster spot.''
Sanchez's eligibility issues swayed John Calipari, who coached him on the Dominican team, from giving him a scholarship at Kentucky. The NCAA ruled he had no eligibility left.
He played seven games for a club team in Spain, from where he was called home by his financially strapped family to work as a carpenter. He had a brief stint with the DR national team. Add in the two years at Monroe College and Sanchez was out of luck and eligibility. After four months of lawyering and petitions, the NCAA granted him a senior year. His junior year at St. John's was lost.
"Not playing junior year at St. John's was very difficult,'' Sanchez said. "The hardest part was not being able to help my teammates. They were like family.''
He's got a new family now — in Westchester.
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