Northwest Notes June 18, 2024

Sanders-Frison hired as Idaho men's basketball assistant

MOSCOW — The Idaho men's basketball program and head coach Alex Pribble announced Monday the addition of Markhuri Sanders-Frison to the coaching staff. He will serve as the next assistant coach focusing on player development. 

"We're very excited to add Markhuri to our staff," Pribble said in a UI news release. "Our players are going to absolutely love him. He has such a positive energy, a real presence, and he's truly committed to the development of our young men."

Sanders-Frison played professionally for nine seasons overseas, and most recently served two-year coaching stint at the University of Oregon under head coach Dana Altman.

"He's a winner and a leader — one of those people that just makes everyone around him better," Pribble continued. "That's who he was as a player and that's who he is as a coach."

Sanders-Frison served as a graduate assistant for a Ducks team that went on to win the Pac-12 Tournament title and clinch a spot in the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament last season. 

His playing career overseas included stints in Mexico, Australia and Japan from 2012 to 2021. He led Tokyo Excellence to consecutive NBDL Championships from 2013 to 2015, earning the NBDL Finals MVP title in 2015 and finishing as the league's top rebounder twice. He also experienced success with the Goldfield Giants in Kalgoorlie, Australia in 2013, where he was honored as Player of the Week twice.

Before his pro career, Sanders-Frison played two seasons at California. He was a senior captain and Cal's leading rebounder, guiding the Bears to a Pac-10 regular season championship in 2010. 

Sanders-Frison's collegiate playing career started at Eastern Arizona College, where he led EAC to a 30-6 record before transferring to play one season at South Plains City College.

A Portland, Ore., native, Sanders-Frison graduated from Jefferson High in Portland in 2006.