Corey Sanders knew people questioned the wisdom of his decision to turn pro before his senior year, and he knew those questions intensified when he wasn’t selected or signed immediately after June’s NBA Draft.

On Thursday, the former Rutgers basketball star had an answer: A contract with the Houston Rockets’ G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of Texas.

“It’s a lot of relief,” Sanders said via phone. “Since June, since the (NBA) draft, a lot of things have happened. A lot of people I felt like lost faith in me, faith in what I was doing and how hard I was going to work. This is a starting point for what’s to come.”

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G League contracts are one-year deals with a base salary of $7,000 per month or $35,000 over the course of a season, plus incentives — the biggest of which is a call-up to the NBA. Sanders, who finished his collegiate career by earning a spot on March’s All-Big Ten Tournament team after averaging 24.6 points and shooting 53 percent over three games, could have signed to play in Europe by now. But he wanted to stay in the states — he has a young daughter in his home state of Florida — and held out for the opportunity.

“I felt like going overseas wasn’t my type of thing,” the point guard said. “I’ve played basketball in the U.S. my whole life. I feel like my talent is good enough to get me into the NBA. All it took was for me to get with one team that liked me and understood me.”

He said Vipers GM Jimmy Paulis saw a good fit with Rio Grande’s style.

“He likes my feel for the fast-paced game, that I’m athletic and can guard the ball,” Sanders said. “They want to play up-tempo.”

Sanders said he reports to Texas Oct. 15. Right now he’s working out at Rutgers, and he expressed gratitude to the program for helping him grow. His final career numbers and rankings in Scarlet Knights' history: 1,370 points (17th), 328 assists (eighth) and 136 steals (tied for 10th).

“They brought me to this point,” Sanders said. “I had a great career there; wasn’t easy and wasn’t all I hoped it would be when it came to winning, but I was able to stick through hard times and the coaching change.”

Sanders was recruited by Eddie Jordan and showed electrifying flashes as a freshman, but he evolved into a better all-around player the past two seasons under Steve Pikiell.

“People here (Rutgers) have been there for me,” he said. “Shoes (staff member Greg Vetrone) has always been there, and Coach Pikiell, we grew together. They were able to prepare me for the next level.”

Vetrone, a holdover from Jordan’s staff who helped guide Sanders through his ups and downs, was with him Thursday when he signed.

“I’m seriously crying,” Vetrone said. “This is an emotional thing. People saw Corey as a ballplayer, but he endured a lot to get to this point. He learned a lot from the day he got onto campus. To have a chance to play in the NBA, he’s not my son but I’m proud of him like a son.”

More Rutgers: Check out scenes from Rutgers hoops practice in the video atop this story.

Staff writer Jerry Carino: jcarino@gannettnj.com.