TCU basketball gets good news on center Kevin Samuel
TCU center Kevin Samuel is returning for his junior season.
Samuel was evaluated by the NBA’s Undergraduate Advisory Committee (UAC) and decided not to test the NBA Draft waters. The deadline for undergraduate players to declare for the NBA Draft is Sunday at 10:59 p.m..
The deadline for players who declare for the NBA Draft to withdraw while retaining NCAA eligibility is June 3.
The 6-foot-11, 250-pound Samuel tested the draft waters last year before opting to return for his sophomore season. That decision paid off and was a win-win for both sides. The hope is it will be next season, too, with TCU needing Samuel’s post presence.
The Frogs have limited post depth experience with Jaedon LeDee as the only returning big man with game experience. Incoming freshman Eddie Lampkin is a promising post player as well.
Samuel had 11 double-doubles, highlighted by a career night with 24 points and 18 rebounds in TCU’s loss at Arkansas in the Big 12/SEC Challenge on Jan. 25. He also led the Big 12 with 85 blocked shots.
For the season, Samuel averaged 10 points and 8.4 rebounds in 32 starts. But he’s got plenty more development ahead of him.
Samuel knows he has to become an even stronger presence in the paint on the offensive and defensive end. He also has to play more technically sound, limiting his proneness for early foul trouble, and improve his free-throw shooting (37.8% free-throw shooter last season).
Samuel acknowledged those two areas must improve last month, and also mentioned he’s focused on getting stronger this off-season.
“Just to help battle these big dudes,” Samuel said.
