ATLANTA — For Michigan State’s Nick Sanders, earning praise from men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo for his piano skills may be as impressive as earning praise from him on the court.
Nick, the son of Detroit Lions legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders, followed his family’s footsteps as an athlete, walking on to the basketball team.
But his mom, Lauren, made sure Nick and his brothers Nigel and Noah had an interest in music.
“My mom started (us on piano) when we were 4,” Nick said. “She always wanted to (learn), but she never did.”
Sanders continued athletics and music, earning a spot as a walk-on with Michigan State at the beginning of the 2022-23 season. He’s averaged 1.4 points in 10 games this season, but he’s also flashed off his off-the-court abilities.
“The first time I went to (Izzo’s) house, I sat down and started playing,” Sanders recounted.
Izzo was impressed enough to invite the junior guard to perform at the team’s Christmas party. He played “All of Me” by John Legend with his teammates.
The performance was “solid,” Sanders said, but only a certain part.
“I don’t know about the singing, but my playing was good,” he said with a smile.
Michigan State vs. Auburn time, TV channel
- Time: 5:05 p.m. ET Sunday
- TV: CBS
- Streaming:Fubo (free trial)
Gunter Schroeder is a student in the University of Georgia's Sports Media Certificate program.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Barry Sanders' son dazzles Michigan State's Tom Izzo with piano skills
