Samson Johnson looks to make major leap in new role for UConn men next season (Arruda @ Courant)

[karstenkibbe]

You didn't answer my question so I have to infer that you are saying that saying freshman game action performance will be a better predictor of Johnson's success than pre-injury sophomore scrimmage performance. I can't agree. I thought he looked much better as a soph and I expect him to be better as a junior. What he did a frosh is now moot.

I’m not looking for your agreement. You might be right. But you’re putting words in my mouth. Read my original post again. But if you want to trade hyperbole, then you are playing the Billy Packer role wonderfully here with some not-quite-Ajou-Deng-situation vibes.

 

[Dogdeacon]

Oh, please. How a player plays currently trumps how he played the year before, whether a scrimmage or game.

Did you not read the thread from about a year ago with many examples of players numbers in first two years being predictive of their careers? I don't want to be the negative here as I'm rooting for the kid.

Good backup bringing energy more than #s but with upside is my current estimation.
Can you provide specific projection that has you so perturbed by anyone being cautious?

 

[7774]

Which part of that generated the what? Athletically gifted? It's him or Solo Ball. Nobody else is close. Important? Singare isn't ready and I have doubts about either freshman forward backing up Alex. We would have had to get a big in the portal.

I’d guess it's the part where you said he could handle the ball, attack off the bounce, and make 3s since he's never shown any real ability to handle the ball or attack off the bounce, and he's 1/7 from 3 in his career.

But I get it, you're part of the group on this board who has decided nothing he does in an actual college basketball game counts. What he did in high school counts, what he did in an open practice counts, and what he did in a fake game against Virginia counts. But actual college basketball games? Do not count. It's an interesting approach.

 

[Waquoit]

Did you not read the thread from about a year ago with many examples of players numbers in first two years being predictive of their careers? I don't want to be the negative here as I'm rooting for the kid.

Good backup bringing energy more than #s but with upside is my current estimation.
Can you provide specific projection that has you so perturbed by anyone being cautious?

Well this escalated in hurry! I'm not perturbed in being cautious. My issue is that apparently you and kibbe are putting more stock in his first year when he didn't play over his second year where he admittedly played better before he got hurt. That's nuts. Players get better. I think he will even be better next year. Will that be good enough? I don't know. But I do know that the staff says he will and they don't seem to say stuff like that just for effect like JC used to do.

 

[QDOG5]

Our coach, who won a National Championship for us, says the kid is going to see minutes at the 4 and the 5. So, I have to believe that at the beginning of next season you will see him playing at the 4 and the 5. We'll see how it goes as the season progresses but Hurley is going to give Samson a chance to earn some minutes. I don't see why we would have a problem with that.

 

[superjohn]

Which part of that generated the what? Athletically gifted? It's him or Solo Ball. Nobody else is close. Important? Singare isn't ready and I have doubts about either freshman forward backing up Alex. We would have had to get a big in the portal.

Samson has yet to show any of what you described his game to be.

 

[husky429]

I watched him play last year. He should not be playing meaningful minutes. Karaban has to have better backup. We go small or whatever. I don't want him playing meaningful minutes in Kansas, no thanks.

The kids has played 0 minutes of meaningful D1 basketball. Drawing any conclusions from what you saw last year is just silly.

 

[RipCity]

Possibly the worst take of the year. He might be the most athletically gifted player on the roster. You wanted out highly rated 4 star 6'10" athletic shot blocker who can handle the ball, attack off the bounce and shoot 3s to leave?

By far the most important thing Hurley did for this season was convince him to stay. Reports are he spent a LOT of effort on that.

Classic absurd Johnson take from you.

Btw, he blocked 0 shots and made 0 threes this year and couldn’t handle the ball at all, so there’s that too.

I’m glad that he’s coming back, but it shouldn’t surprise anyone if he never produces.

 

[husky429]

Classic absurd Johnson take from you.

Btw, he blocked 0 shots and made 0 threes this year and couldn’t handle the ball at all, so there’s that too.

I’m glad that he’s coming back, but it shouldn’t surprise anyone if he never produces.

I don't understand anyone claiming to have an idea what kind of player Johnson is. He essentially hasn't played real basketball in 2 years. Hurley worked hard to keep him on campus, so clearly we envision some kind of role for him as a backup 4/5.

He's tall, athletic, and skinny. The sample size on any skill is too small to matter.

Past that I'm not sure anyone other than our coaching staff can really say what the plan is for him.

 

[Deleted at users request]

I’d guess it's the part where you said he could handle the ball, attack off the bounce, and make 3s since he's never shown any real ability to handle the ball or attack off the bounce, and he's 1/7 from 3 in his career.

But I get it, you're part of the group on this board who has decided nothing he does in an actual college basketball game counts. What he did in high school counts, what he did in an open practice counts, and what he did in a fake game against Virginia counts. But actual college basketball games? Do not count. It's an interesting approach.

He’s hardly played in actual basketball games to know. And it’s mostly no fault of his own.

His freshman year we were loaded at his position for him to get time. His sophomore year he had an injury and Hurley is known for being conservative when bringing guys back. He’s never got an actual chance to show what he can do on the court to know one way or another.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Samson has yet to show any of what you described his game to be.

So has Castle yet to show, in college, any of what people describe his game to be. I've seen clips of Johnson doing all that in HS. He was behind several guys as a freshman, and got hurt last year. He hasn't had a chance to show it.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

I’m rooting for the kid and we should believe there is hope. But he’s right at no point has he looked like he was a natural on the court. Granted small samples but it’s reality. Long way to go for him one can only hope for a big jump.

I agree he hasn’t played enough to make a determination and when he did play is was only after rehabbing so that throws in another variable .
These are the facts ;

1. He was highly recruited and came in with a lot of untapped potential.
2. Whether he was a starter or not is not as relevant as he was slated as a rotation player before the injury last year.. On a NC team.
When you look at the talent on that team getting into the rotation was not that easy. In past rosters guys like Richie Springs and Apostolonos Would minimally be seeing rotation minutes not garbage ones.
Finally the job he is required to do is
backup especially the unknown minutes behind the 5 not carry a load . Anything we get beyond a competent backup is a bonus.

 

[Fatroony5]

I don't understand anyone claiming to have an idea what kind of player Johnson is. He essentially hasn't played real basketball in 2 years. Hurley worked hard to keep him on campus, so clearly we envision some kind of role for him as a backup 4/5.

He's tall, athletic, and skinny. The sample size on any skill is too small to matter.

Past that I'm not sure anyone other than our coaching staff can really say what the plan is for him.

Hate that he had that injury last season. Don’t think it changes the fact that Karaban would’ve been thrust into the starting line up, but it would’ve allowed Johnson to at least get some minutes. He was really behind the eight ball after the injury. Hard to say what he is but Hurley didn’t recruit over him in the portal, so he’s got a role to play, at least I would imagine the staff projects him carving out a role for the team. Seems like a guy they may want to intentionally get more minutes early in the season for the buy games to inject some confidence into the kid.

 

[freescooter]

I watched him play last year. He should not be playing meaningful minutes. Karaban has to have better backup. We go small or whatever. I don't want him playing meaningful minutes in Kansas, no thanks.

I’m sort of with you, Nick. There are guys who are loyal and likable and everyone hopes will have a breakout season. Rarely does that happen though. Mostly those guys aren’t playing because they aren’t good enough. Everyone thinks this guy or that guy will be the next Hilton Armstrong. But the reason everybody remembers Hilton is that he was such a unique case! I hope Samson replaces Hilton as the guy everyone mentions when talking about major improvement. I suspect he remains a bit player.

 

[gsmooth]

I just gave a like because the gif is funny, LOL

 

[ColchVEGAS]

I love that we have people that can determine a guy does not pass the eye test after playing 115 minutes over a two year span at this level.

I will take what the coaches say he is capable of until we see some extended meaningful minutes.

 

[freescooter]

Our coach, who won a National Championship for us, says the kid is going to see minutes at the 4 and the 5. So, I have to believe that at the beginning of next season you will see him playing at the 4 and the 5. We'll see how it goes as the season progresses but Hurley is going to give Samson a chance to earn some minutes. I don't see why we would have a problem with that.

It was an off season puff piece. What did you expect Hurley to say? Standard puff piece quotes. Just change the name and the position. And I’m going to guess that pretty much everyone has a chance to earn SOME minutes. Maybe 2-3 at the end of the annual blowout of DePaul, but minutes none the less. Except maybe Andrew.

 

[Huskyforlife]

So has Castle yet to show, in college, any of what people describe his game to be. I've seen clips of Johnson doing all that in HS. He was behind several guys as a freshman, and got hurt last year. He hasn't had a chance to show it.

This is true though. The same people shouting Castle is a guaranteed starter and first round pick want you to not use the same logic on Samsons projection.

 

[Waquoit]

It was an off season puff piece. What did you expect Hurley to say? Standard puff piece quotes. Just change the name and the position.

I know that all coaches do coachspeak. JC was a master. But to me, Hurley seems less coachspeaky than most. I'm taking his quotes here at face value.

 

[navery12]

This is true though. The same people shouting Castle is a guaranteed starter and first round pick want you to not use the same logic on Samsons projection.

Well if Castle is still here as a junior and only played 115 minutes, I think you'd find a lot less people penciling in Castle to start. Which isn't a knock on Samson, I think he'll be a useful backup to Clingan. But the situations aren't remotely comparable, it's a beyond dumb comparison

 

[Palatine]

SJ's high school film is pretty sensational. He shot 67% from the field and 37% from three in 2020. He shows off a lot of skills including good hands, good court vision even some ball handling. He moves like a much smaller player, he is athletic and smooth. It's fair to expect that he would be bigger and stronger after two years in the UConn weight and conditioning program. This was a very high level recruit, 6-10 with a 7-4 wingspan.

He has been practicing against national championship caliber players. He has been learning Hurley's system. Suggesting he may have an advantage over incoming high school seniors is not out of line.

Anyone who makes predictions based on his time on the court at UConn is cherry picking. He had good minutes and poor minutes. . The sample size is so small any meaningful extrapolation is impossible. Sure it's all good fun but we won't know until we do know. We do know that Hurley wants him on the squad. It would have been easy to tell him to move on. The proof will be in the playing. I for one am very optimistic.

 

[Scot-e]

I love the thought of a high quality player - and a player with great character- backing up both the 4 and 5 spot. Could get up to 20 minutes a game if this pans out well for us.

 

[Waquoit]

SJ's high school film is pretty sensational. He shot 67% from the field and 37% from three in 2020. He shows off a lot of skills including good hands, good court vision even some ball handling.

 

[Nick2005]

I’m sort of with you, Nick. There are guys who are loyal and likable and everyone hopes will have a breakout season. Rarely does that happen though. Mostly those guys aren’t playing because they aren’t good enough. Everyone thinks this guy or that guy will be the next Hilton Armstrong. But the reason everybody remembers Hilton is that he was such a unique case! I hope Samson replaces Hilton as the guy everyone mentions when talking about major improvement. I suspect he remains a bit player.

Omg if Samson is Hilton Armstrong than I was wrong. Way off base. Crazy off base. Im thinking way less than that. Im thinking so much lower than Hilton Armstrong you made me laugh. Like really? If Samson is Armstrong how would we lose a game except big east and Kansas reffing? Who would start? Karaban would be lucky to get minutes. What are we talking about?

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Omg if Samson is Hilton Armstrong than I was wrong. Way off base. Crazy off base. Im thinking way less than that. Im thinking so much lower than Hilton Armstrong you made me laugh. Like really? If Samson is Armstrong how would we lose a game except big east and Kansas reffing? Who would start? Karaban would be lucky to get minutes. What are we talking about?

Oh god dude shut up already.

 

[Huskyforlife]

Well if Castle is still here as a junior and only played 115 minutes, I think you'd find a lot less people penciling in Castle to start. Which isn't a knock on Samson, I think he'll be a useful backup to Clingan. But the situations aren't remotely comparable, it's a beyond dumb comparison

The only reason you don’t think he’ll be here as a junior is because of his high school stats/rankings/highlights. It’s obviously not the same exact thing because of how long it’s been since Samson has played meaningful basketball, but ultimately both their positive projections by their fans are based on the information available to us about their potential coming out of high school.

I also wasn’t intending to make this a post about my thoughts on Samson, but I guess I’m in the mood now, so feel free to ignore what’s written below, as it’s not a response to you.

Also we shouldn’t be dishonest about Samsons situation so far. He might not have been ready to play as a freshman on a borderline top 25 team, especially with Whaley/Sanogo/Jackson/Martin/Polley as our options at the 4/5. But I don’t think that’s a knock really.

Then we know going into last season he was primed for a major role before the injury. By the time he was healthy we had established a rotation of 8-9 guys that was the best in the ENTIRE country. Nobody blames Dan for not trying to shoehorn Samson into that rotation, and even Samson must understand the decision to shelf him considering he stayed.

The wall potential stuff is obviously in the past, but I’m still of the belief he’s gonna make an impact in Storrs before he leaves. Won’t be surprised if he’s the next starting center after Clingan.