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Is Orlando Sanchez the next Langston Galloway?

By Nick Ziegler

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The newly founded Westchester Knicks have already began to pay dividends for the New York Knicks with the emergence of Langston Galloway, and the Knicks already have plans for another possible call-up in Orlando Sanchez.

Sanchez went undrafted this past NBA Draft out of St. Johns, and the Knicks were able to sign the 26-year old forward onto their D-League affiliate.

Last season with St. Johns, Sanchez averaged 7.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG, and 1.1 BPG as an athletic 6-foot-9 big.

This season, Sanchez is continuing to develop as a basketball player, as he is averaging 9.0 PPG, and 6.5 RPG. “I feel I’ve made a lot of progress,’’ Sanchez said. “Everybody’s helping me. Allan Houston, assistant coach Michael Hodges, teaching me row to improve my shot and my game.’’

Phil Jackson’s plan as of now is to have Sanchez be part of the Knicks next season as long as he doesn’t sign elsewhere, but there is a possibility of seeing Sanchez brought up sometime this season. If Jackson trades players like Jose Calderon, Amar’e Stoudemire, and Andrea Bargnani, it likely will open up roster spots for Knicks’ D-League players like Sanchez.

With the success that Galloway has had at the NBA-level it has shown players like Sanchez that he can make the NBA too.

“Langston opened the door for everybody on my team,’’ Sanchez told The Post. “He’s showing now that the guys here can play too and make it in the NBA.” I think he changed everything with the Knicks.

“I’m here to see if they can call me up. I want to try to show them I can play in the league. My guy Langston did it. I’ve been getting better from the first day.’’

Allan Houston, who runs the Westchester Knicks is very high on Sanchez as a player.

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“Orlando has a high skill level and surprising athleticism,’’ Houston told The Post. “He has been using this season as a learning experience to maintain the high level of energy on a consistent basis that’s required on the NBA level.”

His former teammate Galloway had very nice things to say about Sanchez, and whether or not if he’s ready for the NBA.

“Yeah, definitely,” Galloway said. “He’s more versatile — able to play the 1, 2 and 3, able to bring the ball up and he’s a willing passer, too. It makes him a real versatile player in any offense.’’

Sanchez does have competition at the wing in the Knicks’ roster, as Travis Wear has been in the NBA all season, and a fellow rookie Cleanthony Early, who has had his rookie season hurt by a knee injury, has also had good moments in the NBA.

Early has been sent back down to the D-League to get more minutes and get back into better basketball shape after the knee surgery. With Early and Sanchez both naturally SF, the two will be battling for minutes, and hopefully push each other to become better players.

Next: What are 6 things to watch in the second half of the Knicks' season

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