Penn State picked up some good news on the basketball front Tuesday.
Visiting UConn transfer guard Terrence Samuel committed to the Nittany Lions. Samuel was visiting Penn State and made the call while on campus.
The former Husky hails from Brooklyn, New York and joins big man Jordan Dickerson as another native of the Big Apple. As required by NCAA transfer rules, Samuel will sit out this upcoming season before playing his two remaining years of eligibility. Effectively, Samuel is a 2016 commit although he will practice with the team during the 2015-16 campaign.
At 6-foot-4, 200-pounds Samuel averaged just 3.0 points and 1.7 rebounds during his first two collegiate seasons but picked up valuable experience as a part of UConn’s national title winning team in 2014.
Samuel struggled on the offensive end of the floor despite shooting 56 percent from the field his freshman year. In his second season Samuel’s average dropped off to just 39 percent. Samuel likely won’t be a three-point threat either as he did not hit one of his 18 attempts from the floor. He does have a slight positive in the assist to turnover ratio department.
A year to work on his game and take a small step back from active basketball could perhaps be a defining moment in his career. But on the surface, Samuel’s biggest selling point appears to be the name of the school he’s coming from more than what he brings to the table from Day 1.
A change of scenery might be all it takes to rediscover the skills and confidence that will help Samuel morph back into the player he was when UConn originally recruited him. Penn State basketball’s history is scattered with its own fair share of players who found more success away from Happy Valley. Stats can be misleading just as often as they can be telling. And in fairness, DJ Newbill (once a transfer) left Penn State as a far different, and far better player than when he joined the Nittany Lions. Time can do wonders.
When he eventually hits the floor, Samuel will join a guard grouping of Shep Garner, Isaiah Washington and Josh Reaves along with any other new additions for the 2016-17 season. Penn State will also bring in 2016 guard Nazeer Bostick and forward Joe Hampton as a freshman that year.
Ultimately Penn State landed a player that will join the program who’s familiar with expectations and is physically prepared and more confident than most newcomers. It may not be a big advantage, but as an increasingly important season arrive at the Bryce Jordan Center, Penn State won’t be turning down any help it can get.
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