DOM - Orlando Sanchez starts to raise eyebrows

NEW YORK (NCAA/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - As St John's prepared for their 2013-14 American college basketball campaign, a newcomer to the squad from the Dominican Republic caused a buzz.

Coach Steve Lavin spoke with a lot of enthusiasm about Orlando Sanchez, a forward that had been honorable mention JUCO (Junior College) All-American while a player at Monroe College.

After a quiet start to life with the Red Storm, Sanchez erupted for 19 points and also had eight rebounds and four assists in a 104-58 rout of Fordham last weekend.

The game was played in one of the most famous arenas in American sports, Madison Square Garden in New York.

"This was my first time playing in Madison Square Garden," Sanchez said. "Everybody dreams to play here.

"I went out there and I took it.

"Today I had to shoot it and I did."

If Sanchez was relatively low-key about his performance, one of his teammates was not.

Sophomore forward JaKarr Sampson said: "We had everybody clicking today.

"Orlando Sanchez had his coming out party tonight, he's great. I was telling everyone before the season that he can do a little bit of everything and you saw that today.

"He can pass the ball, he can score, he can do it all."

Sanchez, who hails from the town of Nagua in the Dominican Republic, went to high school at Colegio Nueva Luz.

He is 2.05m in height.

Sanchez has plenty of skill and shows it on both offense and defense.

While he has plenty of power, there is also flair.

"Orlando is a versatile athlete who has a diverse skill set for a player his size," Lavin had said of Sanchez before the season.

"He can play-make, shot make, defend multiple positions, block shots and rebound.

"Orlando is a selfless team player, with a competitive nature that will benefit our team."

A senior, Sanchez has already played for the Dominican Republic senior team, featuring at the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship in Mar del Plata and helping the team to a third-place finish.

He has said that his greatest achievement was making the national team that summer.

The 25-year-old will be hoping to contend for a spot in the Dominican Republic squad that plays at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

FIBA