Samardo Samuels to Play for Jamaica National Team
June 29, 2009 | Men's Basketball
June 29, 2009
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville sophomore forward Samardo Samuels will compete as a member of the Jamaican National Basketball team in the Carribean Basketball Championship (CBC) to be held June 30 through July 4 in Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
Team Jamaica will face Trinidad and Tobago in its opening game on Tuesday. The team is coached by Sam Vincent, former head coach of the NBA Charlotte Bobcats who played seven years in the NBA for Boston, Seattle, Chicago and Orlando.
Samuels, who hails from Trelawny, Jamaica, scored a game-high 21 points to lead Team Jamaica to a 107-56 victory over a team of NBL (National Basketball League of Jamaica) All-Stars last Friday in its final exhibition game. The Jamaicans beat that same NBL team last Tuesday 96-57 during its preparations for the upcoming tournament.
Samuels' 11.8 scoring average last season was the seventh-highest ever for a freshman at Louisville. He ranked 11th in the BIG EAST in blocked shots (1.3) and was seventh in field goal percentage (.578). A member of the BIG EAST All-Rookie team, he grabbed 4.9 rebounds a game and his 51 dunks were the second most ever in a single season at U of L. The Cardinals posted a 31-6 record last season, won the BIG EAST regular season and tournament championships and reached the NCAA Elite Eight.
The Jamaican team also features two other BIG EAST Conference players: Providence forward Weyinmi Efejuku of Providence and Rutgers guard Mike Coburn. Jamaica last won the CBC title in 2006. Team Jamaica will face The Bahamas on Wednesday before playing Barbados in it final group match on Thursday.
Update - Game 1
Samuels scored a team-high 22 points, but Team Jamaica fell 88-76 to Trinidad and Tobago in the opening game of the CBC on Tuesday. Providence forward Weyinmi Efejuku added 21 points for Jamaica, which lost Chaz Carr in the opening minutes of the game with an injury. Jamaica will play The Bahamas at 2:15 p.m. in the second game of the Group A competition.
Update - Game 2
Samuels scored 11 points as Jamaica beat The Bahamas 77-73 on the second day of the CBC. Jamaica will play Barbados at 6:45 p.m. in the third game of the Group A competition.
Update - Game 3
Samuels scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds as Jamaica beat Barbados 96-74 in the third game of the Group A competition in the CBC. Jamaica will play Cuba in the semifinals on Friday.
Update - Game 4
Samuels scored 18 points as Jamaica beat Cuba 98-93 in the semifinals of the CBS. Weyinmi Efejuku poured in 32 points for the Jamaica, which will face the British Virgin Islands on Saturday for the championship.
Update - Game 5
Samuels scored a team-high 17 points to lead Jamaica to a 65-61 win over the British Virgin Islands in the title game of the Carribean Basketball Championship on Saturday.
