By BRENDAN MCGAIR

Sports writer

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – The funny thing about relationships is that they can strike in places you least expect. Take Rakim Sanders and Preston Murphy, for example.
Basketball may be the common denominator between Sanders and Murphy, but thanks to the singing talents of Sanders’ elder sister, Nyisha Conroy, the pair forged a kinship that has transcended from pickup games to big-time college hoops.
Seems Ms. Conroy was the featured vocalist at the wedding of Murphy and his wife, Mariah. Nyisha’s melodious abilities paved the way for an introduction between Murphy and Sanders, who at the time was a heralded recruit at St. Andrew’s in Barrington. These days Murphy and Sanders are humming in unison at Boston College, Sanders a sophomore forward while Murphy holds down a position on head coach Al Skinner’s staff.
“We played at St. Raphael’s old gym and a couple of playgrounds,” recalls Murphy, who prior to becoming BC’s director of basketball operations was the head boys’ basketball coach at Woonsocket High. “I played in some men’s leagues in Boston and I would bring Rakim along and he would watch me play. The relationship just developed from there.”
Murphy, a former standout under Skinner at Rhode Island, remembers the potential just oozing out of Sanders when he starred at St. Andrew’s. “He is a very talented kid, and to see someone with those physical tools, it’s a wonder to watch.”
From Sanders’ end, the feeling of appreciation and respect is mutual. “Good guy, great role model. He’s somebody who I can look up to. From off the court to on it, he’s there.”
When he wasn’t performing his duties coaching the Villa Novans, Murphy would head over to the Barrington to monitor Sanders. When Murphy made the jump to college coaching in 2006, Sanders was at a crossroads. The Pawtucket native had narrowed his college choices down to Providence and Boston College, but in a matter of weeks of Murphy accepting a job in Boston, Sanders declared that’s also the direction he would be heading in.
Asked pointblank if Murphy’s placement at BC helped tipped the scales in the Eagles’ favor, Sanders replied, “My mind was already made up; it wasn’t as if Preston was pressuring me or anything. But just him being (at The Heights) and me knowing him from back home helped make the decision that much easier. I had someone at the school who I could be comfortable with.”
Having a security blanket, a la Murphy, is a luxury Sanders doesn’t take for granted. Murphy agreed when the topic of being a buffer between Skinner and Sanders when the subject was broached.
“I played for coach Skinner and it’s like second nature to me, being around him,” said Murphy. “He does a great job with the guys, but I would say I’m (a liaison).”
The pressure of making waves in a highly-touted conference such as the ACC has not changed the dynamic of the relationship. “It just grows,” said Sanders. “If I’m in a slump, he’s someone I can go talk to. I just feel that it’s gotten better.”
“He’s like family to me,” said Murphy.
From a basketball standpoint, Murphy has helped Sanders twofold. The pair spend time working on Sanders’ jumper  and ball-handling abilities each day. Last season saw Sanders shoot at a 38 percent clip from 3-point territory, a mark that helped him finish second on the Eagles in scoring behind Tyrese Rice.
Murphy has also installed a hearty dose of self-assuredness in Sanders, the kind that can go a long way in cutting the tension when the action heats up on the hardwood.
“He’s helped me keep my confidence up,” said Sanders. “There have been some games where my shot has been off, but he always tells me to keep on shooting.”
The evolution of Sanders’ game is starting to become noticeable in areas that weren’t necessarily his forte before. In Saturday’s 81-76 win for BC over Providence, the 6-foot-5, 225-pound swingman made an impact down the stretch before fouling out with 50 seconds remaining, finishing with seven points.
Known throughout his time at St. Andrew’s as a pure scorer, Sanders let the record show that there are, indeed, other parts to his game. Prime example No. 1 came when he picked the pocket of PC’s Weyinmi Efejuku. Rice took care of the rest, converting a three-point play to put the Eagles up 53-44 with 8:49 remaining.
Later Sanders showed the touch of a point guard on consecutive Boston College possessions. The first beneficiary was Cortney Dunn, who Sanders found cutting toward the rim for a painless layup. Sanders’ court vision was once again apparent when he was swarmed underneath and flicked the ball out to an awaiting Tyler Roche, who nailed a jumper on the wing for a 57-46 BC advantage.
For Sanders, call it the continuation of an on-going evolution.
“Those are the parts of becoming a complete basketball player,” said Murphy. “He’s getting a better feel of the overall game. He’s so gifted athletically, but he’s got to learn the big scope, which he’s doing.”
“I want to challenge myself to play defense or do the little things to help us win,” said Sanders. “Anybody can go out there and shoot the ball, but not a lot of people can sit down and guard somebody. I want to be the one (forcing) the turnover.”
In terms of point production, not much has changed in the season-plus Sanders has called Conte Forum home. His average is right around 11 points per, but it’s not necessarily fair to say he’s stuck in neutral. Sanders is taking the necessary steps, steps that aren’t always detectable by merely glancing at the stat sheet.
And you can bet the growth of Sanders is sweet music to Murphy.