In the previous summer league, the overall performance of the Houston Rockets can be said to have far exceeded everyone's expectations. Among them, striker Jermaine Samuels, who was forced to play the inside position, was impressive.
Because Jay Huff, the Rockets' starting center in the first two games, was successfully poached by the Denver Nuggets, Samuels had to appear in the team's starting five in subsequent games. Despite being forced to appear in an unfamiliar position, Samuels remained competitive enough, playing a total of 6 games for the Rockets in the Summer League, averaging 27.3 minutes per game, averaging 11.3 points, 5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.8 blocks while shooting 44.2% from the field, 35.3% from three-point range and 76.2% from the free-throw line. There is no doubt that Samuels also contributed greatly to the Rockets' advance to the Summer League Finals.
Samuels, a player with no NBA game experience, was a lost draft pick in last year's NBA Draft and played well in the NBA Development League last season, representing the Indiana Pacers in a total of 50 appearances for the Fort Wayne Ants, a subsidiary team in the Development League, averaging 30.1 minutes per game, averaging 15.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.7 blocks while shooting 66.7% from the field and 46.4% from three-point range. 57% from the free throw line. It can be seen that Samuels has shown great maturity in the development league, his offensive efficiency is amazing, and he has also made outstanding contributions on the defensive end, but unfortunately he has never received attention from NBA teams.
Samuels was a member of the 2018 Villanova University to win two NCAA championships in three years. He played alongside Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges and Donte DiVincenzo, Eric Paschall and Omari Spellman, and the Villanova roster that also included Collin, a white point guard who now plays for the Denver Nuggets Gillespie）。 Of course, Samuels was just a bench player averaging 6.2 minutes per game, and he really didn't contribute much to the team's championship.
Samuels spent five years in the NCAA, starting with his sophomore season and being an integral part of the team's rotation through his fifth season. Both he and Gillespie contributed greatly to the team's reach to the Final Four in March Madness 2021. It is worth mentioning that the Rockets' flanking star Cam Whitmore is also a player from Villanova University, but when he joined Villanova University, Samuels had just left the team after 5 years of NCAA career. As a member of the 2018 Villanova University NCAA Championship, I don't know if Samuels will be able to realize his NBA dream with the Rockets this time.
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