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July 1, 2009
 WBA
News Update
Index
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Samuels
dreams of lifting Caricom crown
 When
Team Jamaica steps out on the court at the
Caricom Basketball Championship in Tortola, British
Virgin Islands from June 30 to July 4, a lot of
Jamaica's hopes will be pinned on University of
Louisville star forward Samardo Samuels.
The former Muschette High player who helped his team to
the NCAA quarter-finals last month is being highly
touted as a future NBA prospect after just one season of
college basketball.
However, the former number one high school player in the
USA describe his experience as "very tough" but says it
has been an eye opener.
The 6' 8" - power forward is eagerly awaiting the start
of the tournament as he hopes to help his team put on a
good show in Tortola and qualify for the Centro
Basketball Championship - the next phase in their quest
to reach the 2012 London Olympics.
"The guys they have put together is great. I met
some of the players at the airport and right away we
bonded. We have a great group and we are Jamaicans so
we're going to work hard and... give 100 per cent,"
Samuels said.
He said he expect some tough matches from the regional
teams but he believes they will go all the way, "I
know these guys are going to work as hard as me and I'm
interested to see how it turns out because I'm pretty
confident that we'll take the title," he said.
Samuels, who left St Benedict Prep for Louisville
despite receiving several offers from teams such as
North Carolina, Connecticut, Florida and Georgetown, was
pleased with his level of performance in the NCAA
Championship.
"In the NCAA tournament in my first year and to go
on to the elite eight is a great feeling... when you're
having a good year, bt it was not a year I wanted to
have (in terms of losing out at the quarters), but
experience-wise I think I did well."
"Now I'm preparing for next year and I know that I
need to work on a few things because a lot of times I
notice some weakness in my game and I'm trying to work
on that," he said.
Samuels, whose team went down to Michigan State, said
the fact that President Barack Obama
selected Louisville to take the NCAA title meant there
was more pressure on the team.
The big Jamaican, who admitted to not liking basketball
at a young age, said the turning point in his life came
so quickly and dramatically that he hardly had time to
savour it.
"You never know the turning point for you in life...
I never liked basketball; I never had the intention of
playing basketball either. I just took it up one day and
the next thing I know I'm overseas and I'm one of the
best players in the nation.
"Now everywhere I go everyone knows me... But since I
came overseas to play I have worked very hard every day
and it has paid off, so it's great," he said.
by Livingston Scott,
Observer staff reporter
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