Sananda Fru has traveled far and wide looking for places that will make him better, and not just as a basketball player.
As a teenager, he left his home in Berlin for a German club that noticed his intriguing blend of size and motor skills. Last year, Fru challenged himself by coming to the United States and playing as a junior in college at Louisville.
The 6-foot-11 Fru has now landed at Marquette, which the 22-year-old big man thinks is the right spot for him to take another big leap in his development.
“The biggest thing I was looking for was for a program – or more for a coach – that trusted me and my abilities,” Fru told the Journal Sentinel. “First of all, who cared about me as a player to develop, but also wants to push me the furthest, skill-set wise.
“I was really looking to have a big impact on the team, help as much as possible, but also be able to expand my game because I felt a little limited in my role, limited in the way I got used last season. So I was looking to have bigger usage. And then have a good bond with my coach, who really looked at you as a person more than a fixture or a player. So really looked at your personality.”
Fru found the right fit with Golden Eagles head coach Shaka Smart.
“I feel like most coaches in general, talking about the transfer portal, are looking for ‘Oh, this player fits this position, he can help me here, this player can do that,’ ” Fru said. “But he was about you as a person.
“What is important to you. How you think. The way you think. And how do you fit on my team, not only as a basketball player but also as a person. As a human being.”
Sananda Fru hails from Berlin and played on pro club Loewen Braunschweig
After a recruitment solely on Zoom, Fru committed to MU without having visited the campus. Smart then wanted to hop on a plane and head to Louisville just so they could meet in person.
But, in a decision that gives insight into Fru’s personality, the big man wanted to be proactive and said that he would rather make time for a quick visit to Milwaukee instead. So in mid-April, there was a trip in which, in a little longer than 24 hours, Fru learned all about where he will spend the next year.
Fru hasn’t been afraid to make bold choices. As the second-youngest of four siblings, he got into basketball thanks to the influence of an older brother. The youth coaches in Berlin liked Fru’s potential, but as a teenager he felt like he wanted more.
So he joined the pro club Loewen Braunschweig, which is located almost three hours away from his home.
“I was looking to move out of Berlin just because my chances of there getting a chance to play professionally or to evolve as a player weren’t too big,” Fru said. “Because there’s only like one big club and they got a lot of players.
“They probably had the best player of my position from my youth age. So for me, I could go there, but I would always be No. 2 option on team. And I was looking for a chance to really build my skill-set.”
Fru played four seasons for Loewen Braunschweig in the Basketball Bundesliga.
“I’d say I got pretty mature over the time,” he said. “Just because there were so many mistakes I’ve done or stuff I’ve been through that just teach me how to react to certain things or also to learn how to get on court, get playing time.
“Because I was one of the youngest persons on my team, but also one of the youngest players in the league who really got minutes, playing-wise.”
Fru had always been curious about the U.S., and wanted to challenge himself again. So last year, he went to Louisville, and averaged 9.0 points and 6.1 rebounds in 35 games.
“A big thing about collegiate basketball I love is just competing against other people your age,” Fru said. “Playing against all these draft prospects, people getting drafted.
“Because when you’re overseas, they’re probably like maybe five, maximum 10, players in the draft that you know or have heard of. But when you’re over here, like 80% of the players in the draft play college basketball. So it’s just something to like measure yourself with people around you.”
Sananda Fru excited about playing with Nigel James Jr.
Fru lost his starting spot at Louisville down the stretch of last season with head coach Pat Kelsey searching for more physicality, though Fru still had 10 points and 10 rebounds in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against South Florida.
He’s stepping into a big role at MU. His early impressions with the Golden Eagles are just what he expected.
“It’s a lot of how you are as a person, how you approach stuff,” Fru said. “[Smart] wants you to have a growing mind-set. Looking forward. Don’t drop your head.
“A lot of talks we have as player and coaches aren’t always about ‘Oh, you have to cut harder here or you have to be more athletic or shoot the ball better.’ It’s like ‘Hey, you have to be ready for it.’ More readiness. You have to get your mind right. You have to be mentally focused. You have to have a high motor.”
One of the biggest keys to MU’s success next season will be the partnership between Fru and guard Nigel James Jr., who was the Big East’s freshman of the year last season. Former Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr., a likely lottery pick, told the Journal Sentinel that Fru “loves his guards” and Brown also raved about Fru’s screening ability.
Fru is figuring out that chemistry with James.
“I’ve seen a little bit of it in practice already and he’s an amazing player,” Fru said. “Especially his ability to get downhill to the basket. One of a kind, probably. His speed. Athletic. His ability to finish around the rim is amazing.
“He’s also a great passer. That’s really underrated in his game. He’s really able to see people on the opposite side. Find the open guy. There’s been things, especially in the first week, where he passed the ball and it didn’t get to me. Just because I didn’t know he was able to make the pass and I stopped rolling.”
MU targeted Fru in the portal because of his ability to finish at the basket. Fru made 77.6% of his 152 shots at the rim last season, a top-100 mark in the country.
“I’m not a super ball-dominant guy and we got guys like NJ who just have the ball in their hands enough times,” Fru said. “We need screeners.
“And the way they play basketball here, they like the pocket after the pick-and-roll. Find the big on the short rolls. And then just playing with poise in the paint and getting good shots.”
Fru shot only eight 3-pointers last season, making four, but he thinks he can do more of that.
“I feel like I’m doing a good job in practice right now just stretching the court as well,” he said. “Stretching out defenses, creating more space for teammates.
“And then just getting into a lot of actions. Just don’t stop the ball once I get it. One second and get into the next action out of the pick-and-roll. Keeping the defense on the move, making it tough for the rotations to be there.”
Fru has the chance to log heavy minutes next season, and he’s been preparing in the usual fashion at MU under Smart with parking-deck mile runs and quad-burning sessions on the VersaClimber.
“I think they didn’t expect me to be, but I would say I’m like one of the better ones in the team, condition-wise,” Fru said. “So I don’t really struggle with conditioning.
“And then just in the weight room, trying to get mass on my body. I think that’s a big part. I can still improve it. Just getting stronger, getting more physical and especially getting stronger in the legs to make easier post-ups and stuff like that, sitting on my guy.”
This is what Fru wanted when he chose MU. To be in an environment that will challenge him to be better.
“I want to be as successful as possible,” Fru said. “But something I’m really looking forward to is, for one, to win the Big East and then also make March Madness.
“I’ve been there last season. Unfortunately, Marquette didn’t make it last season. I really like the environment that was there, just the way it is. I feel like playing in March is something else. It’s very tough to describe, but it’s an amazing and unique feeling.
“And it’s my last year at college basketball, I’m a senior now. I want to do whatever I can do just to get back to March and play these games. And hopefully make it further than last year.”
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Sananda Fru opens up on why he chose Marquette and what he wants next season
Reporting by Ben Steele, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Ben Steele, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
