Villanova Basketball 2021-22 Participant Recap: Jermaine Samuels

Tremendous senior was a time period we heard rather a lot this previous faculty basketball season. With the addition of a COVID yr that gamers may use, we noticed many seniors of their fifth or sixth seasons.

Mitch Lightfoot and Jalen Coleman-Lands of Kansas had been 24 and 25 when Kansas raised the Nationwide Championship trophy. Each are listed on the Kansas roster as tremendous seniors.

Charlie Moore, Brady Manek, and Remy Martin had been all tremendous seniors that helped take their squads deep into the NCAA Event.

Villanova would not have superior all the best way to their third Ultimate 4 in six NCAA Tournaments with out two tremendous seniors of their very own.

One in all them, we all know affectionately as “Maino.”

Bob Donnan USA TODAY Sports activities

The Breakdown

Jermaine Samuels did all of it for Villanova. He guarded a number of positions, he was the main rebounder, he was the main scorer within the NCAA Event and their greatest participant then as effectively.

In a season the place his shot did not fall as a lot as he would really like, he continued to remain composed and all the time led. He all the time discovered a method to contribute.

Not solely did Jermaine Samuels lead Villanova in rebounds at 6.5 a recreation, however he was additionally third in scoring at 11.1 factors per recreation, and fourth in minutes per recreation at 29.6.

I’ve begun the opposite recaps initially of the season however for those who’re speaking about this previous season for Jermaine Samuels then you need to begin within the greatest video games. It’s important to begin within the NCAA Event and Huge East Event. Samuels was the main scorer and main rebounder for the ‘Cats through the eight greatest video games of the season.

Samuels averaged 14 factors per recreation throughout this closing stretch of the season and led Villanova in rebounding at 8.6 per recreation.

Within the Huge East semifinal win towards UConn, Samuels helped Villanova to a half time benefit by dropping 12 within the first half. He drained three 3-pointers and completed an and one drive by benefiting from the RJ Cole mismatch.

He confirmed his expertise by transferring effectively with out the ball and scored thrice on the rim after fast catches within the second half to assist seal the win for Villanova.

Essentially the most spectacular bucket was when he bought the very best of the very best massive man within the Huge East, Adama Sanogo, in area. Collin Gillespie drove baseline and drew the eye of Sanogo. After Sanogo helped and minimize off a end on the rim for Gillespie he recovered and located Samuels. Samuels then drifted as if he was going to identify up within the nook for a 3. Sanogo relaxed and centered on Gillespie for a second. As quickly as Sanogo regarded Gillespie’s approach, Samuels sprinted to the rim the place Gillespie discovered him for a straightforward two within the paint.

These had been the type of hustle factors that Samuels contributed all season. This sort of off ball motion is why Samuels led Villanova with 116 made pictures from the paint. No different Wildcat hit 100 with Eric Dixon being the closest at 94.

This was actually necessary for Villanova as they did not have a terrific downhill dribble drive participant who may get simple buckets on his personal. Villanova needed to generate appears to be like on the rim in different methods and Samuels transferring off ball to the rim was arguably the best technique.

Samuels additionally made life as exhausting as attainable for Sanogo on the opposite finish. Eric Dixon was battling an sickness and solely performed 12 minutes. Samuels was tasked with checking the very best massive man within the Huge East and although Sanogo had 15 factors and 13 rebounds, he shot a poor 6/15 from the ground.

Samuels completed with a recreation excessive 21 factors and a group excessive 12 rebounds. Villanova would go on to win the Huge East Event and this enormous recreation from Samuels was important in doing so.

Samuels actually confirmed off his versatility within the Candy 16 win towards Michigan. Michigan had a noticeable dimension benefit and used it to their benefit. Villanova had a bonus in velocity and Samuels used this benefit towards Michigan star Hunter Dickinson by taking him off the dribble and beating him to the rim a number of instances.

He once more confirmed his talent degree in transferring with out the ball by scoring on a baseline minimize and an offensive rebound. He used his polished two-foot bounce cease to attain on the rim a number of instances. This was a transfer Samuels used at a excessive degree to attain over greater opponents and labored effectively towards the 7’2” Hunter Dickinson.

Samuels was the very best participant on the ground towards Houston within the Elite Eight and led Villanova with 16 factors and 10 rebounds.

Samuels once more dominated the paint by ending 4 instances on the rim within the second and in essentially the most clutch conditions. After Houston minimize a 10-point Villanova lead down to 5, Samuels once more used his velocity benefit towards the opponent’s heart, beating Josh Carlton to the rim and forcing Fabian White to assist. Neither had success towards Samuels as they jumped to contest whereas Samuels planted on one other nice bounce cease. Samuels would end by White’s foul and end an and one.

With just a little over a minute to play and Villanova solely up by 4, Samuels took White off the dribble for a layup that put Villanova up by six. The ‘Cats would go on to win by six and advance to the Ultimate 4.

Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports activities

Samuels demonstrated nice triple-threat positioning all season lengthy and used his pivot foot in addition to any Wildcat. These talent units had been necessary for Samuels as he was enjoying beneath the rim a variety of instances as a result of matching up with an even bigger opponent. Samuels proved to be affective as he led Villanova in two level makes with 120 and shot 57% from two.

Villanova wanted these buckets from Samuels in a yr the place the offense had droughts and struggled at instances to get attractiveness.

Trying Forward

Samuels is presently collaborating within the G League Elite Camp attempting to enhance his NBA draft inventory. Samuels might not be drafted however scouts do see his defensive versatility as a plus, that offers him a shot to make a roster someplace. He is guarded a number of positions on the Elite Camp and had a terrific one on one block in a recreation that led to a transition 3-pointer from Kellan Grady from Kentucky.

Scouts suppose that the power of Samuels to play position-less basketball additionally helps his possibilities. Samuels can have the prospect to indicate extra athleticism enjoying in sooner video games and also will not be enjoying as his group’s greatest participant which can assist him.

For Villanova, Samuels will likely be missed. The expertise, the manufacturing, and the toughness is not going to be simply changed. The ‘Cats will look to Brandon Slater, Cam Whitmore, and Trey Patterson to assist change what Samuels introduced up entrance at ahead.

Jermaine Samuels concludes his Villanova profession with a Nationwide Championship, two Ultimate 4’s, three Huge East common season titles, and three Huge East Event titles.

Nova Nation will all the time be glad about a participant who we bought to see develop up from a freshman who performed simply six minutes a recreation to a brilliant senior who was named the South Area’s Most Excellent Participant on a Ultimate 4 group within the NCAA Event.

Thanks Jermaine and better of luck V//.