Jermaine Samuels Explained

Jermaine Samuels
Position:Small forward
Height Ft:6
Height In:6
Weight Lbs:230
League:NBA
Team:Houston Rockets
Number:00
Birth Date:13 November 1998
Birth Place:Franklin, Massachusetts, U.S.
High School:Rivers School
(Weston, Massachusetts)
College:Villanova (2017–2022)
Draft Year:2022
Career Start:2022
Years1:2022–2023
Team1:Fort Wayne Mad Ants
Years2:–present
Team2:Houston Rockets
Years3:2023–2024
Team3:Rio Grande Valley Vipers
Highlights:

Jermaine Samuels Jr. (born November 13, 1998) is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). 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. 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.[2] Samuels committed to playing college basketball for Villanova in November 2016, turning down offers from Indiana, Duke, Kansas, UConn, Georgetown, Arizona State and California.[3] 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 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. 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] On July 4, 2024, he signed a standard contract with the Rockets.[26]

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.[27]

Career statistics

NBA

|-| style="text-align:left;"|| style="text-align:left;"| Houston| 14 || 0 || 4.3 || .643 || .000 || 1.000 || .9 || .2 || .1 || .1 || 1.4|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career| 14 || 0 || 4.3 || .643 || .000 || 1.000 || .9 || .2 || .1 || .1 || 1.4

College

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18| style="text-align:left;"| Villanova| 25 || 0 || 6.1 || .250 || .188 || .625 || 1.2 || .3 || .0 || .1 || 1.1|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19| style="text-align:left;"| Villanova| 35 || 22 || 22.0 || .448 || .347 || .622 || 5.4 || 1.0 || .4 || .8 || 6.4|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20| style="text-align:left;"| Villanova| 30 || 30 || 30.3 || .464 || .276 || .727 || 5.5 || 2.0 || .9 || .7 || 10.7|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21| style="text-align:left;"| Villanova| 25 || 24 || 29.3 || .481 || .371 || .828 || 6.4 || 2.5 || .6 || .3 || 12.0|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22| style="text-align:left;"| Villanova| 38 || 37 || 29.6 || .472 || .276 || .770 || 6.5 || 1.4 || .8 || .7 || 11.1|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 153 || 113 || 24.1 || .461 || .306 || .740 || 5.2 || 1.4 || .6 || .5 || 8.5

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Megliola . Lenny . Megliola: Franklin’s Samuels is center of attention at Rivers . January 25, 2020 . . January 31, 2014.
  2. News: Hilbert . Eric . 2016-17 ALL-USA Massachusetts Boys Basketball Team . January 25, 2020 . . April 26, 2017.
  3. News: Megliola . Lenny . Megliola: Franklin’s Jermaine Samuels a superstar on the court at Rivers . January 25, 2020 . . December 17, 2016.
  4. News: Chiarelli . Mark . Franklin native Jermaine Samuels cuts down net following Villanova's Elite Eight win over Texas Tech . January 25, 2020 . MassLive . March 25, 2018.
  5. News: Ventura . Danny . Rivers’ Jermaine Samuels takes hoop skills to Villanova . January 25, 2020 . . November 10, 2016.
  6. News: Jermaine Samuels has broken bone in hand, out indefinitely . January 22, 2020 . . December 30, 2017.
  7. News: On WFAN: Villanova Head Coach Jay Wright Previews NCAA Season . January 26, 2020 . WFAN . November 6, 2018.
  8. News: Sielski . Mike . Villanova’s Jermaine Samuels might be just what the Wildcats have been missing . January 26, 2020 . . March 1, 2019.
  9. News: Russo . Ralph . South Region: In ‘rebuilding’ years, Purdue, ’Nova excel . January 26, 2020 . . March 22, 2019.
  10. News: Juliano . Joe . Villanova’s Jermaine Samuels, Collin Gillespie selected to U.S. Pan American basketball team . January 26, 2020 . . June 18, 2019.
  11. Web site: Gillespie, Samuels Named Second Team Preseason All-BIG EAST . . January 26, 2020 . October 10, 2019.
  12. News: Gelston . Dan . Jermaine Samuels’ 3-pointer lifts Villanova past No. 1 Kansas . January 26, 2020 . . . December 21, 2019.
  13. News: Juliano . Joe . Samuels helps lift No. 14 Villanova over UConn, 61–55 . January 26, 2020 . . January 18, 2020.
  14. News: No. 9 Villanova rolls to 76–61 victory against no. 13 Butler . January 26, 2020 . . . January 21, 2020.
  15. News: No. 8 Villanova, minus Samuels, trounces St. John's 79–59 . January 28, 2020 . . . January 28, 2020.
  16. News: No. 14 Villanova holds on to beat Georgetown 70-69 . March 8, 2020 . . . March 7, 2020.
  17. Web site: Big East Game Thread: #18 Marquette Golden Eagles at #15 Villanova Wildcats . Anonymous Eagle . . March 18, 2020 . February 12, 2020.
  18. News: Watkins . Eric . 2020 Philly Big 5 men's basketball award winners announced . April 30, 2020 . 247 Sports . April 15, 2020.
  19. News: Ingemi . Marisa . Franklin’s Jermaine Samuels preps for the unknown in his senior season with Villanova basketball . November 5, 2020 . . November 1, 2020.
  20. Web site: Samuels Named to Erving Award Watch List . . November 5, 2020 . November 4, 2020.
  21. News: Juliano . Joe . Jermaine Samuels scores a career-high 32 points, Villanova gains an 84–74 win over Georgetown . June 11, 2021 . . February 7, 2021.
  22. News: Thompson . Jaylon . Villanova stars Collin Gillespie, Jermaine Samuels return for 2021-2022 season . June 11, 2021 . 247 Sports . April 12, 2021.
  23. Web site: Sheridan . Mike . Second Half Surge Carries Wildcats Past No. 18 Xavier 71-58 . . February 5, 2022 . December 21, 2021.
  24. Web site: Mad Ants Announce 2022 Training Camp Roster. OurSportsCentral.com. October 24, 2022. October 24, 2022.
  25. Web site: Rockets Sign Five Players. NBA.com. August 2, 2023. August 2, 2023.
  26. Web site: Rockets Announce Roster Moves. NBA.com. July 3, 2024. July 5, 2024.
  27. News: Juliano . Joe . Villanova’s Collin Gillespie and Jermaine Samuels help lead USA to bronze medal at Pan American Games . January 25, 2020 . . August 5, 2019.