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A look back: Part 12

Halldan1

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Jan 1, 2003
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4_tyrese_samuel.jpg

Tyrese Samuel

6-10 220 LBS Montreal, Quebec

Orangeville Prep

Bio

2019-20: Grabbed six rebounds in a season-opening victory vs. Wagner (11/5/19)… accounted for seven points and six rebounds in a victory over Florida A&M (11/23/19)… reached double digits in scoring for first time in career with 10 points against Southern Miss during a Battle 4 Atlantis tournament win (11/28/19)... scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a victory over Prairie View A&M (12/22/19)... had five rebounds at St. John's (1/18/20)... grabbed five rebounds at Providence (2/15/20).

HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Riverdale Baptist School in Upper Marlboro, Md., before transferring to Orangeville Prep in Orangeville, Ontario...Won a Maryland state championship with Riverdale Baptist in 2017...Two-time All-Canada selection in 2017-18 and 2018-19...Averaged 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block in his senior season with Orangeville Prep, which finished the year 19-2 and placed third in Canada.

PERSONAL: Tyrese Samuel...Son of Patricia Bynoe and John Samuel...Has two sisters...Attended NBA’s Basketball Without Boarders camp in January 2019 and was named an All-Star...Played AAU basketball with UPlay and Red Rush...Birthday is March 10.

Stats
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/4432105/tyrese-samuel



Potential, thy name is Tyrese Samuel.

Samuel might have been a virtual unknown to most college basketball fans, but not to those that monitor college recruiting. Samuel was a Rivals 4 star recruit who chose the Pirates over such schools as St. John’s, Georgetown, Maryland, Virginia Tech, Wake Forrest and Pittsburgh, to name a few.


When the Canadian native committed to the Hall in late November, 2018, he joined 3 star teammate Dashawn Davis in the two man class. Unfortunately grade issues sidelined Davis who was forced to go the juco route leaving Samuel as the Pirates only recruit for this past season.

That's a difficult burden for any young player, especially one from outside the US borders. But Samuel bore that burden well with the help of a very supportive group of teammates and a coaching staff that understood the challenge facing the frosh.

In fact during the season Kevin Willard noted such when after a difficult stretch of games where the Pirates did not play well the SHU head coach went public with his disapproval, noting that he read the riot act individually to every player on the team except Samuel, adding that because he was a freshmen he deserved the leeway.

Why did the Canadian big man chose the Pirates? Well, chalk one up for newly hired assistant coach Duane Woodward who was the lead in Samuel's recruitment. That and the quote below that appeared in the NY Post.

“Their playing style fits me,” Samuel said of the Pirates in a phone interview to the New York Post. “When I went there, I felt it was genuine. I felt it was right for me. Basketball out there is really big. Coach Willard is a good guy and their coaching staff is really good. That was the main thing that really stood out to me.”

Samuel had an uneven initial year with the Pirates. To be expected with most first year players in the Big East. Especially competing on a veteran AP top 25 team.

Early on the rookie showed flashes of his enormous potential shooting well from the arc, attacking the basket off the dribble and slamming put back offensive rebounds off of teammates missed shots. But that was on the offensive side of the court.

On defense, the bread and butter of all Willard coached teams, Samuel struggled. He had quick hands that often served him well but his footwork failed him as he had a tendency to reach instead of staying in front of his man, and that lead to his getting beaten off the dribble resulting in points, fouls, or both.

Because of that and because of a late season injury (more the former), Samuel's minutes shrank as the season progressed. To the point that he barely saw much PT down the stretch as Willard as is his want shortened his rotation.

Now with the season cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic all eyes look to the future with the talented forward. The ability is there as is the size.

Samuel has all Big East physical tools to be an outstanding small forward with NBA potential. But that potential hasn't scratched the surface yet, and the young man must not only work on his game, but maybe even more importantly work on his intensity. In short Samuel seems to fade in and out on the court where again you see the flashes, but seldom the consistency needed to be more than just a role player off the bench.

The future is now here. There's minutes to be had with the graduation of 3 starters from this past years Pirate squad. Are those minutes Samuel's? They are if he wants them enough.

Rating

Potential only opens the door. Once there results matter and nothing else.

The year was uneven for Tyrese Samuel. He played well early on but as the season progressed his contributions waned and he fell out of Willard's rotation, playing sparingly. For that reason, even taking into consideration his freshmen status....

Final rating C
 
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