Jermaine Samuels
Samuels with Villanova in 2021
No. 00 – Houston Rockets
PositionSmall forward
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1998-11-13) November 13, 1998
Franklin, Massachusetts, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High schoolRivers School
(Weston, Massachusetts)
CollegeVillanova (2017–2022)
NBA draft2022: undrafted
Playing career2022–present
Career history
2022–2023Fort Wayne Mad Ants
2023–presentHouston Rockets
2023–present→Rio Grande Valley Vipers
Career highlights and awards
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  United States
Pan American Games
Bronze medal – third place2019 LimaTeam

Jermaine Samuels Jr. (born November 13, 1998) is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Villanova Wildcats.

Early life and high school career

Samuels is the son of Taihish and Jermaine Samuels Sr. and grew up in Franklin, Massachusetts. He began dunking the basketball at age 13 after growing from 5'9 to 6'3. Samuels attended The Rivers School, where he was coached by Andrew Mirken, as well as playing basketball in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) for Expressions Elite. In his freshman season, he averaged 19 points per game for The Rivers School.[1] As a sophomore, he had a knee injury which required surgery and six months recovery.[2] Samuels averaged 17.5 points and 12.1 rebounds per game as a senior and was named First team All-USA Massachusetts by USA Today.[3] Samuels committed to playing college basketball for Villanova in November 2016, turning down offers from Indiana, Duke, Kansas, UConn, Georgetown, Arizona State and California.[2] ESPN ranked him the 52nd best recruit in his class.[4] He picked Villanova after visiting the campus in August 2016 and feeling very comfortable around the campus and coaches.[5] He is now considered the top athlete out of Franklin, MA, taking the top spot from Alex Breitmaier.

College career

Samuels in 2021

Samuels had a season-high 11 points in a 103–85 win against DePaul on December 27, 2017. However, he fractured his left hand in the game and missed several weeks of playing time.[6] He rejoined the rotation in February 2018 but struggled to receive consistent minutes and did not play in NCAA Tournament victories over West Virginia and Texas Tech.[4] Samuels averaged 1.1 points and 1.2 rebounds per game as a freshman on a team that won the 2018 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game.[7]

On February 27, 2019, Samuels scored a season-high 29 points in a 67–61 win against Marquette.[8] He had 12 points and seven rebounds in an NCAA Tournament win over Saint Mary's. Samuels helped Villanova achieve a 26–10 record and win the Big East Conference.[9] He averaged 6.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game as a sophomore.[10]

Coming into his junior season, Samuels was named to the Preseason Second Team All-Big East alongside teammate Collin Gillespie.[11] Samuels scored 15 points in a 56–55 win against top-ranked Kansas on December 21, 2019, including a three-pointer with 20.5 seconds remaining.[12] On January 18, Samuels scored 19 points including a crucial three-point play in a 61–55 win against UConn.[13] He had 20 points in a 76–61 win over Butler on January 21.[14] On January 28, 2020, Samuels missed a game against St. John's with a sprained foot.[15] Samuels made the game winning three-point play in a 70–69 win over Georgetown on March 7, finishing with 13 points.[16] As a junior, Samuels averaged 10.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.[17] He was named to the Second Team All-Big 5.[18]

During the 2020 offseason, Samuels worked on his decision-making and three-point shooting, while struggle to find practice space due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[19] He was named to the preseason Julius Erving Award watchlist.[20] On February 7, 2021, Samuels scored a career-high 32 points and had six rebounds, five assists and three steals in an 84–74 win against Georgetown.[21] As a senior, Samuels averaged 12 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, earning All-Big East Honorable Mention recognition. Following the season, he announced he was returning for a fifth season of eligibility.[22]

On December 21, 2021, Samuels surpassed the 1,000 point threshold in a 84–74 win against Xavier.[23]

Professional career

Fort Wayne Mad Ants (2022–2023)

After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft, Samuels signed with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants on October 24, 2022.[24]

Houston Rockets (2023–present)

On August 2, 2023, Samuels signed a two-way contract with the Houston Rockets of the NBA and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA G League.[25]

National team career

In July and August 2019, Samuels was a part of the United States national team who competed at the Pan American Games in Peru. The team won the bronze medal, defeating the Dominican Republic with nine points from Samuels. He averaged 9.4 points per game during the tournament.[26]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2017–18 Villanova 2506.1.250.188.6251.2.3.0.11.1
2018–19 Villanova 352222.0.448.347.6225.41.0.4.86.4
2019–20 Villanova 303030.3.464.276.7275.52.0.9.710.7
2020–21 Villanova 252429.3.481.371.8286.42.5.6.312.0
2021–22 Villanova 383729.6.472.276.7706.51.4.8.711.1
Career 15311324.1.461.306.7405.21.4.6.58.5

References

  1. ↑ Megliola, Lenny (January 31, 2014). "Megliola: Franklin's Samuels is center of attention at Rivers". Wicked Local. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  2. 1 2 Megliola, Lenny (December 17, 2016). "Megliola: Franklin's Jermaine Samuels a superstar on the court at Rivers". Wicked Local. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  3. ↑ Hilbert, Eric (April 26, 2017). "2016-17 ALL-USA Massachusetts Boys Basketball Team". USA Today. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  4. 1 2 Chiarelli, Mark (March 25, 2018). "Franklin native Jermaine Samuels cuts down net following Villanova's Elite Eight win over Texas Tech". MassLive. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  5. ↑ Ventura, Danny (November 10, 2016). "Rivers' Jermaine Samuels takes hoop skills to Villanova". Boston Herald. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Jermaine Samuels has broken bone in hand, out indefinitely". ESPN. December 30, 2017. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  7. ↑ "On WFAN: Villanova Head Coach Jay Wright Previews NCAA Season". WFAN. November 6, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  8. ↑ Sielski, Mike (March 1, 2019). "Villanova's Jermaine Samuels might be just what the Wildcats have been missing". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  9. ↑ Russo, Ralph (March 22, 2019). "South Region: In 'rebuilding' years, Purdue, 'Nova excel". Associated Press. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  10. ↑ Juliano, Joe (June 18, 2019). "Villanova's Jermaine Samuels, Collin Gillespie selected to U.S. Pan American basketball team". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Gillespie, Samuels Named Second Team Preseason All-BIG EAST". Villanova Wildcats. October 10, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  12. ↑ Gelston, Dan (December 21, 2019). "Jermaine Samuels' 3-pointer lifts Villanova past No. 1 Kansas". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  13. ↑ Juliano, Joe (January 18, 2020). "Samuels helps lift No. 14 Villanova over UConn, 61–55". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  14. ↑ "No. 9 Villanova rolls to 76–61 victory against no. 13 Butler". ESPN. Associated Press. January 21, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  15. ↑ "No. 8 Villanova, minus Samuels, trounces St. John's 79–59". ESPN. Associated Press. January 28, 2020. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  16. ↑ "No. 14 Villanova holds on to beat Georgetown 70-69". ESPN. Associated Press. March 7, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Big East Game Thread: #18 Marquette Golden Eagles at #15 Villanova Wildcats". Anonymous Eagle. SB Nation. February 12, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  18. ↑ Watkins, Eric (April 15, 2020). "2020 Philly Big 5 men's basketball award winners announced". 247 Sports. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  19. ↑ Ingemi, Marisa (November 1, 2020). "Franklin's Jermaine Samuels preps for the unknown in his senior season with Villanova basketball". The Milford Daily News. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Samuels Named to Erving Award Watch List". Villanova Wildcats. November 4, 2020. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  21. ↑ Juliano, Joe (February 7, 2021). "Jermaine Samuels scores a career-high 32 points, Villanova gains an 84–74 win over Georgetown". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  22. ↑ Thompson, Jaylon (April 12, 2021). "Villanova stars Collin Gillespie, Jermaine Samuels return for 2021-2022 season". 247 Sports. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  23. ↑ Sheridan, Mike (December 21, 2021). "Second Half Surge Carries Wildcats Past No. 18 Xavier 71-58". Villanova Wildcats. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Mad Ants Announce 2022 Training Camp Roster". OurSportsCentral.com. October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  25. ↑ "Rockets Sign Five Players". NBA.com. August 2, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  26. ↑ Juliano, Joe (August 5, 2019). "Villanova's Collin Gillespie and Jermaine Samuels help lead USA to bronze medal at Pan American Games". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
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