Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
As first reported Monday on my Twitter, Louisville sophomore forward Samardo Samuels will test the NBA waters but will not hire an agent.
“After lengthy conversations with Samardo and his family, they would like to have him test the waters with the NBA draft,” Louisville Coach Rick Pitino said. “He will not hire an agent and I will orchestrate his NBA visits from my office. I have reviewed the status where Samardo stands at this time and all aspects of the process with his family. I respect his family’s wishes to test the waters and support them 100 percent.”
Underclassmen can withdraw by May 8 if they don’t hire an agent.
A 6-foot-9, 260-pound native of Trelawny, Jamaica who starred at St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, Samuels averaged 15.3 points and seven rebounds last year at Louisville.
“In a draft this deep, he’s at best a second-round pick,” said Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com. “I’m not sure what his rush is at this point coming off the kind of year he had. I’m not sure he really blew anyone away and he isn’t going to wow you with his physical attributes or upside, either. I imagine he’ll be back at Louisville next season and wonder if he may regret using his lone draft card this year instead of next. He won’t be able to test the waters next season when the buzz around him will likely be stronger.”
He added: “This is an incredibly deep draft, especially at the PF position, and I’m not sure how exactly he fits in unless he’s comfortable going in the second round and possibly starting off his career in the D-League or Europe.”
The Jamaica Basketball Association (JBA) on Monday issued a release saying Samuels would enter the draft but not hire an agent.
The release quoted former NBA player Sam Vincent.
“I enjoyed coaching Samardo last summer,” Vincent said. “I was impressed with his talent and his abilities to play the 4 and score effectively away from the basket. I am confident that due to his work ethic and love for the game that he will excel at the NBA level.”
(Photo courtesy Louisville Athletics)
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter
Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
As first reported Monday on my Twitter, Louisville sophomore forward Samardo Samuels will test the NBA waters but will not hire an agent.
“After lengthy conversations with Samardo and his family, they would like to have him test the waters with the NBA draft,” Louisville Coach Rick Pitino said. “He will not hire an agent and I will orchestrate his NBA visits from my office. I have reviewed the status where Samardo stands at this time and all aspects of the process with his family. I respect his family’s wishes to test the waters and support them 100 percent.”
Underclassmen can withdraw by May 8 if they don’t hire an agent.
A 6-foot-9, 260-pound native of Trelawny, Jamaica who starred at St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, Samuels averaged 15.3 points and seven rebounds last year at Louisville.
“In a draft this deep, he’s at best a second-round pick,” said Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com. “I’m not sure what his rush is at this point coming off the kind of year he had. I’m not sure he really blew anyone away and he isn’t going to wow you with his physical attributes or upside, either. I imagine he’ll be back at Louisville next season and wonder if he may regret using his lone draft card this year instead of next. He won’t be able to test the waters next season when the buzz around him will likely be stronger.”
He added: “This is an incredibly deep draft, especially at the PF position, and I’m not sure how exactly he fits in unless he’s comfortable going in the second round and possibly starting off his career in the D-League or Europe.”
The Jamaica Basketball Association (JBA) on Monday issued a release saying Samuels would enter the draft but not hire an agent.
The release quoted former NBA player Sam Vincent.
“I enjoyed coaching Samardo last summer,” Vincent said. “I was impressed with his talent and his abilities to play the 4 and score effectively away from the basket. I am confident that due to his work ethic and love for the game that he will excel at the NBA level.”
(Photo courtesy Louisville Athletics)
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