Samson Johnson Off Season

[AntG168]

What does he need to do to be a legitimate BE starting Center?

How much can he realistically transform his body?

Were going to need him to make a leap next season

 

[Rocktheworld]

Put on weight

Work on his handle

 

[Huskybass]

Strength and focus on becoming a better rebounder and free throw shooter.

 

[UConnStats]

I don’t think he has the frame to support a transformational amount of weight. But one thing he does way too often is attempt blocks on shots he has no shot of blocking, in turn leaving the offensive glass open for the opponent. He’s never going to be Drummond but that DR% should be above 15% at minimum (11.7% this past season). He and Karaban are an awful rebounding tandem and that was routinely exposed during his minutes this year.

Offensively, developing his touch around the rim would be helpful. Whatever shooting touch he had in high school is long gone right now, but even improve his layup and FT game would serve him well.

 

[Kenny11]

He’s already more than qualified as a BE starting center. Now for a starting national championship center he needs to rebound better, get stronger and shoot a little bit.

 

[Tyler2Rings]

Specifically with the weight, he needs more in his legs to lower his center of gravity and not get moved off his spot as much

 

[bazz&boujee]

I reckon he’d be starting for half the Big East as is.

 

[Kenny11]

He also gets abused by guys just ramming into him with shoulders. Refs should call it but He should take some charges to force them to.

 

[YearoftheHusky]

Upper and lower body strength. Learn better techniques for boxing out.

 

[husky429]

Rebounding and defensive IQ. Anything else is gravy.

 

[UCFan1513]

Strength and avoiding fouls

 

[JAdams4Reel]

Muscle.

 

[jibsey]

Getting up and down the floor and cutting for those dunks in the championship game? Even Edey had no answer for that! 2 different looks especially with the bruiser Reed.

 

[UConnSwag11]

He's not able to put on the weight needed to hold his own against the big guys. What he needs to do is work on what he has.

He has insane athleticism and length. Working on not fouling and setting proper screens should be priority one.

With his length, the next thing should be working on post moves, face-ups, passing, and free-throws.

Last thing should be his handle.

 

[Waquoit]

Again, whatever the staff decides is what he should be working on. I don't want hin to lose what he has. Our staff has a way of coaching guys up. Jordan Hawkins went from reluctant player to star over the course of one off-season. They know what they're doing. That's why I have high expectations for Stewart and Ball as well.

 

[navery12]

Don't want him adding weight, just fix 3 things and he'll be more than adequate.

Cut down on the fouls, don't mind the aggressiveness but too often his fouls are meaningless touch fouls that achieve nothing

Care about rebounding. Too often he just seems completely uninterested in getting a rebound. That's an easy fix with the coaches yelling at him all summer

Improve the FT shooting. Not much to say here, get it to 60% instead of 40% and it'll make a big difference

 

[boog204]

Eliminating the two illegal screen fouls a game would be nice...

 

[Austin316]

Hurley & co. knows what to work on.

I’m going to guess they give Sam starter reps and emphasize defense / fouling less. He’ll extend his game beyond rim running. may require lower body strength training for defensive post and body control on the offensive post.

He’s going to be a stud.

 

[UCLJ0211]

Hilton Armstrong senior year incoming…

 

[TheShot1990]

Develop an Oso Ighodaro push-floater in the lane shot. Put on a realistic amount of weight - 10 lbs? Watch 90 videos on how to remain stationary on a pick-and-roll. 1000 FTs a day.

 

[Horatio]

Caloric intake, 45 LB plates and mid range game

 

[Waquoit]

Hilton Armstrong senior year incoming…

We can do better...

 

[UCTitleTown]

I recommend steroids. Some guys just have crazy metabolism and can't gain weight. SJ must have 3% body fat.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

Rebounding and defensive IQ. Anything else is gravy.

Hard to overstate the defensive IQ piece. I don’t know that he’s going to be able to add that much weight or strength, but his post defense as is just isn’t workable as a starting center. His fundamentals break down way too often where his arms come down or wrap up his guy with a completely blatant foul.

 

[husky429]

Hard to overstate the defensive IQ piece. I don’t know that he’s going to be able to add that much weight or strength, but his post defense as is just isn’t workable as a starting center. His fundamentals break down way too often where his arms come down or wrap up his guy with a completely blatant foul.

He's going to be a 15mpg backup center. That guys role is defense, energy and rebounding. He's got 1/3 right now. With the right film work, I think he can pull off the others and push for 6th man of the year.