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A Closer Look: Jermaine Samuels

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Friarbasketball.com will take a closer look at a number of key Friar targets. Our staff will continue to provide reports on the top Friar targets throughout the year, and provide updates on prospects that have been previously featured. 

Prospect: Jermaine Samuels

Position: SF

School: The Rivers School

AAU Program: Expressions Elite

Class: 2017

Overview:

Jermaine Samuels is one of the top players in New England for class of 2017. He currently plays for The Rivers School in the NEPSAC prep school league. Samuels is an elite level athlete who can score the ball in a bunch of different ways. Here is what Friarbasketball.com’s Kevin Farrahar had to say about him after seeing Samuels during his freshman year:

“In a performance that was as good as any this writer has seen by a freshman over the past five years, Rivers forward Jermaine Samuels exploded in an 85-66 victory over Vermont Academy on Saturday afternoon.

“Exploded” may not be accurate, rather he came off of the bench and methodically picked apart a young, but talented Vermont team, scoring 20 points in the first half (only 16 minute halves) and finished with 30 in the game.

Not familiar with Samuels yet? You’re not alone. True recruiting diehards have been reading about him for the past year or two. The 6’6 Massachusetts native is regarded as one of the best freshmen in a tremendous New England class, and after seeing him in person for the first time today it’s hard to imagine any is better. Living in the same town as Samuels, I’d read a lot about him prior to today and he more than exceeded my already high expectations. This is an absolute star in the making.”

There may be no wing player in the class of 2017 who runs the court better than Samuels. Here is a highlight tape of him in action:

Samuels played for Expressions Elite on the EYBL circuit this spring where he averaged 11.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.

What Others are Saying:

ESPN says that Samuels “is a high level young talent who can really score the basketball. He owns a good one-on-one skill set and a special ability to make tough shots. He scores in a variety of different ways for a young player and can play both forward positions although he projects out as more of a big wing in the future. He’s a very good athlete with increasing power in his frame. He gets to the rim with straight line drives and short rip moves alike and is a very good finisher with body control, dexterity, and good natural instincts. He’s very agile and able to make subtle changes in direction while in attack mode, has a short-pull-up game, gets easy points in transition and on the offensive glass, and can also make some jumpers.”

Rivals says that “Samuels is a high flying wing who already packs 204 pounds onto a well built 6-foot-4 (in socks) frame. He uses his strength and athleticism on drives, is a pretty good spot up shooter and plays both sides of the ball. Right now he is very straight line with his game and adding some wiggle to his game will be a priority as he moves ahead.” Rivals currently ranks Samuels 28th nationally in the class of 2017.

Scout says that “Samuels is an attacking wing who can really make things happen off the bounce. Also he is a solid shooter, though that can use some work as well. Samuels right now is at his best in attack mode going to the rim where he uses his long arms, big time athleticism, and good strength to finish around the rim and from the mid-range. He right now is simply a scorer and will have to refine his other skills, but there is no doubt he has high level potential.” Scout currently has Samuels ranked 29th nationally in the class of 2017.

The Competition:

Besides the Friars, there are many high major programs chasing Samuels including Connecticut, Villanova, Boston College, and Rhode Island. This list will undoubtedly get larger as Samuels gets more exposure during the Summer AAU season.

The Bottom Line:

Samuels is going to wind up being one of the top players nationally in the class of 2017. He has been on the PC campus several times and you can expect the Friar coaching staff to continue to recruit Samuels over the next two years. The competition will get tougher as he gets more exposure, but the Friars will continue to have Samuels as one of their top 2017 targets as long as he continues to show an interest in PC.

Mix-Tape Time

Here are some more mix-tapes of Jermaine Samuels in action:

 

2 Comments

  1. Sian S.

    June 10, 2015 at 1:55 am

    He goes to my alma Mata.. right there im a fan and will follow this young mans career! Joseph Snow Lakhidr M Smith Dana Saddler Julian Sayles Ed Lewis Lawrence Eugene Nilton Barros

  2. Julian Sayles

    June 10, 2015 at 1:58 am

    Been watching he can hoop.

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