Samson Johnson named to preaseason watch list for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award

[HooperScooper]

So that makes 4 of 5 positions. Point guard (Bob Cousy Award) is the only one UConn doesn't have a player on.

Samson Johnson, the UConn men's basketball team's 6-foot-10 senior, has been named as one of 20 watch-list candidates for the 2025 Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar Award, given annually at the end of the season to the nation's top center.

https://www.nhregister.com/sports/uconn-mens-basketball/article/samson-johnson-jabaar-award-uconn-huskies-19878563.php

Alternate access:

UConn's Samson Johnson named to preseason Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award watch list​

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Who is the last player for whom the delta between the fan base's perception of him and the college basketball world's perception of him was so large?

 

[david]

Who is the last player for whom the delta between the fan base's perception of him and the college basketball world's perception of him was so large?

Caleb Love might be a contender. He was voted an AP pre-season first team all American, but I’ve seen Arizona fans saying he’s a net negative to the team.

 

[alexd]

Just Wow!
Congrats Samson!

 

[AllHusky]

Actualize that stuff Samson!!

 

[Kitaman]

Who saw this coming?

 

[FreeKlaiber]

Who saw this coming?

non Samson bashers who see his upside despite his flaws? Nearly extinct on the boneyard.

 

[REB1094]

Congrats to Samson! That’s some good company to be with

Expectations of Samson truly range from the ground, now to the moon with this list

We should assume he will make a jump after the offseason. His first year he was a benchwarmer, his second year was lost to injury, and his third year he was the first big off the bench for the best team in the country. Under a Hurley system, he should make another jump

I guess the magnitude of that jump is somewhere between “serviceable starter” and “among the best Cs in college” lol

 

[7774]

Who saw this coming?

Probably anyone who knows how these awards work.

 

[uh-no]

Probably anyone who knows how these awards work.

big player on high visibility team? a monkey with a typewriter would have told you he'd be on the list.

 

[Hurleyman216]

He certainly won’t be our go to scoring option or even one of the top 3-4 options, but being surrounded by 4 elite shooters much of the time should get him some open dunks. He’s crazy athletic, so if he can stay out of foul trouble he can easily average 10-12 pts/game for the season.

 

[RuffRuff]

Let’s put some realistic goals out there for Samson, with some hope that he takes a leap. Per last years stats, if you’re to spread across 20 minutes he’d average:

6.5 pts, 3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. This was mainly against backups. That’s not winning anything.

Can he average 10 pts, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks? 40-50% jump in production. Not a huge ask as a 4th year experienced player. That would likely net him some recognition as a viable starting 5 and some consideration.

Between him and Tarris, 18 pts, 10-12 rebounds and 4ish blocks per game wouldn’t be a bad goal.

 

[Son of Robert]

Who saw this coming?

Did not see this coming, but if SJ is able to maximize his expanded role that Hurley and staff have worked into the offense, then some really good things might happen. From what I understand they are trying to get him to handle the ball more in the midrange and post, and either pass, drive, or shoot it. Anything in addition to the patented lobs and dunks would be serious gravy.

 

[controlfade]

A goal of 18 - 11 - 4 ? Quite honestly, this does not seem realistic at all. It would be amazing and in line with the production of last season.

Let’s put some realistic goals out there for Samson, with some hope that he takes a leap. Per last years stats, if you’re to spread across 20 minutes he’d average:

6.5 pts, 3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. This was mainly against backups. That’s not winning anything.

Can he average 10 pts, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks? 40-50% jump in production. Not a huge ask as a 4th year experienced player. That would likely net him some recognition as a viable starting 5 and some consideration.

Between him and Tarris, 18 pts, 10-12 rebounds and 4ish blocks per game wouldn’t be a bad goal.

 

[RuffRuff]

A goal of 18 - 11 - 4 ? Quite honestly, this does not seem realistic at all. It would be amazing and in line with the production of last season.

Across Reed and Samson.

 

[caw]

Across Reed and Samson.

I’d be happy with 15, 8, 2-3 with solid defense and boxing out. That’s more than doable.

 

[david]

I’d be happy with 15, 8, 2-3 with solid defense and boxing out. That’s more than doable.

If we get 8 rebounds per game from the 2 centers we're in trouble. 11+ per game is not asking a lot.

 

[husky429]

If we get 8 rebounds per game from the 2 centers we're in trouble. 11+ per game is not asking a lot.

We got 10.2 last year between DC and SJ.

 

[caw]

If we get 8 rebounds per game from the 2 centers we're in trouble. 11+ per game is not asking a lot.

A lot depends on the other aspect I said UConn needs, boxing out. The guards "stole" a ton of rebounds because of good boxing out from Clingan last year and Sanogo the year before.

 

[alphasigko]

This has to be a courtesy to Coach Dan. If SJ plays that well to win this, then there is no way we do not win #7. Here's hoping that he is at least a finalist!