Pepperdine Adds Two Graduate Transfers
12/17/2024 4:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MALIBU – Head coach Ed Schilling announced the additions of graduate students Mike Saunders Jr. and Kyle Braun on Tuesday, set to join the Pepperdine men's basketball program this week.
#32 Mike Saunders Jr. | 6-0 | Guard | Indianapolis, Ind. | McNeese/Cincinnati/Utah
Saunders will join the Pepperdine squad after averaging six points and 16.9 minutes per game playing for 2024 NCAA Tournament team McNeese State. The guard also shot 51.5% from the field and 38.1% from long range for the Cowboys. Throughout his career, the graduate student has averaged 5.5 points and 1.8 rebounds with an overall field goal percentage at 42.0 and 33.1% from beyond the arc.
"Mike Saunders has tremendous experience while playing for Cincinnati where he scored 19 points against Memphis as a freshman and 20 against Illinois as a sophomore," Schilling said. "At Utah, he scored 25 vs. UCLA as a junior. Mike has elite speed to pressure the ball on defense and push the pace on offense."
#15 Kyle Braun | 6-2 | Guard | Los Angeles, Calif. | Marshall
Braun played two seasons at Marshall and graduated this fall with a bachelor's degree in business administration while minoring in economics and German. During his freshman year, Braun averaged 2.9 points and 1.3 rebounds.
"Kyle is an experienced player who shoots the ball well with great range," Schilling said. "He is an explosion athlete who can play both guard positions. At El Camino Charter High School, he averaged over 20 points per game and had 32 points in the California City Section semifinals."
STAY CONNECTED
Keep up with all things Pepperdine hoops by following the team on X and Instagram and find more about Waves Athletics via @PepperdineWaves on all platforms.
#32 Mike Saunders Jr. | 6-0 | Guard | Indianapolis, Ind. | McNeese/Cincinnati/Utah
Saunders will join the Pepperdine squad after averaging six points and 16.9 minutes per game playing for 2024 NCAA Tournament team McNeese State. The guard also shot 51.5% from the field and 38.1% from long range for the Cowboys. Throughout his career, the graduate student has averaged 5.5 points and 1.8 rebounds with an overall field goal percentage at 42.0 and 33.1% from beyond the arc.
"Mike Saunders has tremendous experience while playing for Cincinnati where he scored 19 points against Memphis as a freshman and 20 against Illinois as a sophomore," Schilling said. "At Utah, he scored 25 vs. UCLA as a junior. Mike has elite speed to pressure the ball on defense and push the pace on offense."
#15 Kyle Braun | 6-2 | Guard | Los Angeles, Calif. | Marshall
Braun played two seasons at Marshall and graduated this fall with a bachelor's degree in business administration while minoring in economics and German. During his freshman year, Braun averaged 2.9 points and 1.3 rebounds.
"Kyle is an experienced player who shoots the ball well with great range," Schilling said. "He is an explosion athlete who can play both guard positions. At El Camino Charter High School, he averaged over 20 points per game and had 32 points in the California City Section semifinals."
STAY CONNECTED
Keep up with all things Pepperdine hoops by following the team on X and Instagram and find more about Waves Athletics via @PepperdineWaves on all platforms.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
