Sam Froling Explained

Sam Froling
Number:13
League:NZNBL
Team:Taranaki Airs
Position:Center / power forward
Birth Date:10 February 2000
Birth Place:Townsville, Australia
Height Cm:213
Weight Kg:109
College:Creighton (2018–2019)
Draft Year:2020
Career Start:2019
Years1:2019
Team1:Dandenong Rangers
Years2:2019–present
Team2:Illawarra Hawks
Years3:2023
Team3:Levanga Hokkaido
Years4:2024–present
Team4:Taranaki Airs
Highlights:

Samson James Froling (born 10 February 2000)[1] is an Australian professional basketball player for the Taranaki Airs of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He is also contracted with the Illawarra Hawks of the National Basketball League (NBL). He played college basketball for the Creighton Bluejays for one season before leaving to play professionally in Australia.

College career

In January 2018, Froling committed to play college basketball for the Creighton Bluejays after receiving offers from programs including Wichita State, Arizona and Maryland.[2] In 30 games for Creighton during the 2018–19 season, Froling averaged 3.6 points and 1.9 rebounds in 8.9 minutes a game.[3] On 1 April 2019, Froling announced he would be leaving Creighton to pursue professional opportunities in Australia.[4]

Professional career

On the same day as announcing he had left Creighton, Froling was listed on the roster for the Dandenong Rangers of the Australian semi-professional league NBL1. In 16 games for the Rangers during the league's inaugural 2019 season, Froling averaged 16.9 points and 7.6 rebounds a game.[5]

On 6 May 2019, Froling signed a three-year deal with the Illawarra Hawks of the NBL.[6] His remaining contract with Illawarra was voided when the club was liquidated on 18 May 2020.[7]

On 22 July 2020, Froling re-signed with the Hawks on a new two-year deal.[8] He re-signed to a new three-year deal on 25 February 2022.[9]

On 22 February 2023, Froling signed with the Levanga Hokkaido of the Japanese B.League.[10]

With the Hawks in the 2023–24 NBL season, Froling won the NBL Next Generation Award.[11] [12]

Froling joined the Taranaki Airs of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL) for the 2024 season.[13] In July 2024, he joined the Indiana Pacers for the NBA Summer League.[14]

Career statistics

College

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19| style="text-align:left;"| Creighton| 30 || 0 || 9.2 || .576 || .250 || .385 || 1.9 || .5 || .1 || .4 || 3.6

Personal life

Froling was born in Townsville, Queensland, to Shane and Jenny Froling as the youngest of four siblings. His father played in the NBL for twenty years, while his mother was a four-time champion in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL).[15] His sisters, Alicia and Keely, have played together in the WNBL, while his brother, Harry Froling, plays in the NBL for the Brisbane Bullets.[16]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Samson James FROLING . FIBA . 21 July 2021.
  2. Web site: Nyatawa . Jon . Recruiting: Australian forward Sam Froling announces commitment to Creighton for 2018 . Omaha World-Herald . 11 October 2019 . 15 January 2018.
  3. Web site: Samson Froling Bio . Creighton University Athletics . 11 October 2019.
  4. Web site: Nyatawa . Jon . Samson Froling leaves Creighton to pursue professional career in Australia . Omaha World-Herald . 11 October 2019 . 1 April 2019.
  5. Web site: Samson Froling Stats . NBL1 . 11 October 2019.
  6. Web site: Sam Froling Signs With Illawarra Hawks . NBL1 . 11 October 2019 . 6 May 2019.
  7. Web site: Hope . Shayne . NBL's Hawks liquidated amid huge debt . Illawarra Mercury . 15 July 2020 . 18 May 2020.
  8. Web site: Froling Returns to the Hawks . nbl.com.au . 22 July 2020 . 22 July 2020.
  9. Web site: Sam Froling Signs New Three Year Deal With Illawarra . nbl.com.au . 25 February 2022 . 25 February 2022.
  10. Web site:
    1. 13 サムソン・フローリング選手 新規入団のお知らせ
    . Levanga Hokkaido. Japanese. 22 February 2023. 4 April 2023.
  11. Web site: A rising star of Aussie hoops. twitter.com/NBL. 19 February 2024. 19 February 2024.
  12. Web site: Woods. Dan. Tale of the Tape - Froling's Next Generation season. NBL.com.au. 24 February 2024. 24 February 2024.
  13. Web site: The Taranaki Steelformers Airs have signed Australian forward Sam Froling. facebook.com/NZNBL. 12 January 2024. 12 January 2024.
  14. Web site: Sam Froling signs with Indiana Pacers for NBA Summer League. taranakiairs.com. 1 July 2024. 3 July 2024.
  15. Web site: U17 Worlds a family affair for Australian Sam Froling . FIBA . 11 October 2019 . 4 May 2016.
  16. Web site: Sam Froling Signs in Illawarra . NBL . 11 October 2019 . 7 May 2019.