Samson Johnson

[Palatine]

He is doing everything he is being asked to do. On defense he is high hedging, bothering shots, grabbing an occasional rebound, and eating a few fouls. On offense, he is setting screens, providing a high escape value for the ball handlers and going to the basket when the opening is there. Most of all he is a competent replacement for Clingan who can stay fresh.

 

[Scottobot]

Johnson is also very valuable as a defender on a stretch 5 that plays on perimeter and shoots 3s. His speed and length make him the best on team at chasing that type of player.

 

[Bboy Lace]

We're over critical sometimes....

 

[Tenspro2002]

He has exceeded my expectations so far. I was very skeptical that his raw athleticism would translate to complex offensive and defensive schemes in a 5-on-5 setting.

He's more than adequate as a backup, limiting the dropoff from the starters.

 

[REB1094]

Our centers had 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks yesterday. Better than UNC and Kansas. I don't care who shows out, as long as 1 of them does

 

[WhereistheDove?]

He’s great in his role. Love that he brings such a different look to teams. The offense is still a work in progress, but he’s also a backup center, so hard to fault that too much.

There is definitely a significant drop off defensively, but that’s hard to be compared to one of the top 2 or 3 defensive big men in college basketball. Just not a fair comp.

 

[Jaker]

{He plays Way above the rim}-Jay Bilas

 

[GameTime]

The guy is legit. It’s insane that he is this good. He’s not big on stats but damn, the kid impacts the game as a bench player. Wouldn’t trade him for almost anyone

 

[metsfan2323]

The guy is legit. It’s insane that he is this good.

Well, not yesterday, but hopefully a blip on the radar, anyone can have a bad game. Sanogo went through a mini slump last January. Hopefully Johnson returns to form vs Seton Hall.

 

[Huskyfan4evr]

I thought Samson was known as a shooter. He doesn’t even look for his shot. That’s been the biggest disappointment for me. Overall he has held his own.

 

[Marat]

I all know is that we will need a big body skilled center from the portal for next season to help Samson, or split time with him. This is a concern....

 

[JohnnyJr]

I all know is that we will need a big body skilled center from the portal for next season to help Samson, or split time with him. This is a concern....

If he continues to struggle on defense and rebounding we’ll need a starter

 

[jake14mw]

He had a bad game last night. It happens to everyone here and there. He's still a solid backup.

 

[50cPitchers]

Looked like the ball was covered in butter every time he went to grab it

 

[kansashusky]

He fouls a lot. Doesn't rebound particularly well. Has trouble holding onto the basketball. Can only score on dunks. He has made progress since last year, but he has a ways to go. Teams have started to figure out the pick and role lob and have just sagged when he sets screens. Need to figure out how to develop him offensively.

 

[yungdowork]

Samson has already exceeded my expectations, but having to play extra minutes has definitely exposed some of the stuff he’s still working on.

He has to figure out a way to score in the half court, or at least be more of a threat. Since Samson hasn’t really shown any post-up game or shooting touch yet, basically they just have to make sure he doesn’t get an easy cut to the hoop or an alley oop. Now that there’s some game film on him, opposing centers have clued in on that.

 

[huskyinfl]

Chickpeas are neither chicks nor peas

What's the difference between chickpea and garbanzo beans? I've never had a garbanzo bean on my face

 

[RuffRuff]

Samson has limitations - he’s a pure vertical player with a high center of gravity. He gets taken out easily by bigs with weight below the waste. His strengths are in transition. He’s going to be highly limited in the half court where he has to play in clogged lanes. He really doesn’t have an offensive game outside of assisted dunks, and lacks spacial instincts on defense, constantly being out of position as it comes to guarding the rim. A competent backup yes, but I can’t see him as a starting 5 in the BE.

 

[gtcam]

Can't believe he cannot seem to get rebounds - his positioning is horrible and he gets sucked out away from the basket
Dan Hurley said he will play in the NBA? I desperately hope that this was just a one off performance for him but I can see the possibility of Soriano abusing him Saturday.
Would love to see that shooting skill that Dan Hurley has spoken about several times. At least have a short mid range game.

 

[ctkaiser]

It was not his best game, but every player has a bad game or two at least during a season. Let's hope this is his. He just seemed a step slower tonight.

When did he develop hands of stone? He could not hold on to anything. Looked like it was his first game.

 

[tykurez]

Samson had a great game on Saturday and I’ve been waiting for his moment since he committed. I think this opportunity with Clingan out is going to help him tremendously. I forgot that he was ranked ahead of Hawkins on some sites.

But I need to know what happened to his supposed shooting ability. From his commitment profile there’s this amazing quote:

“Now,” Chavannes reported, “you see a guy that can just dominate a game on both ends of the floor, in a matter of seconds. He can shoot the 3 in transition, follow-up dunks, clean up the boards, block shots. He can literally just dominate a game.”

 

[NJHusky]

“Now,” Chavannes reported, “you see a guy that can just dominate a game on both ends of the floor, in a matter of seconds. He can shoot the 3 in transition, follow-up dunks, clean up the boards, block shots. He can literally just dominate a game.”

Good point. He was the starting 4 last year until he got hurt…and then Hurley said in his PC he didn’t want Sampson shooting except the shot clock was about to expire on his 10 footer.

 

[Tyler2Rings]

He can shoot the 3 in transition

I remember the talk of his 3pt shooting. Maybe we give him the Adama treatment in his bigger role. Shoot it if the opportunity is there (wide open, comfortable lead). If he is making them, loosen the leash

Also congrats Samson on a fantastic performance that was critical to UConn winning the game. If 3pt shooting is in his arsenal, he's earned the right to let a few rip

 

[HooperScooper]

Good point. He was the starting 4 last year until he got hurt…and then Hurley said in his PC he didn’t want Sampson Samson shooting except the shot clock was about to expire on his 10 footer.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I remember the talk of his 3pt shooting. Maybe we give him the Adama treatment in his bigger role. Shoot it if the opportunity is there (wide open, comfortable lead). If he is making them, loosen the leash

Also congrats Samson on a fantastic performance that was critical to UConn winning the game. If 3pt shooting is in his arsenal, he's earned the right to let a few rip

He can shoot from out there. Last game was the first time he took a foul like jumper and that teardrop as well. He can score on more than dunks. I think Dan is working up to it. There were a few times St. Johns completely left him along and at some point he will get a green light in that situation.

I'm not worried about his offense, he has more offense than Donovan. Defensively he and the staff need to put him in a place to succeed. He had some success playing in from of Soriano and denying him the ball. I think that is probably how he needs to play big centers. His recovery on hedges can be better. Needs to not chase quite so far.

 

[Palatine]

He can shoot from out there. Last game was the first time he took a foul like jumper and that teardrop as well. He can score on more than dunks. I think Dan is working up to it. There were a few times St. Johns completely left him along and at some point he will get a green light in that situation.

I'm not worried about his offense, he has more offense than Donovan. Defensively he and the staff need to put him in a place to succeed. He had some success playing in from of Soriano and denying him the ball. I think that is probably how he needs to play big centers. His recovery on hedges can be better. Needs to not chase quite so far.

Samson has some experience playing against big centers considering he was playing every day against Clingan.

 

[mcs333]

I hope the coaches are getting him ready for a few pick and pop to mix in with his pick and roll. He seems to have a nice touch around the foul line.

 

[uconnfan68]

He can shoot from out there. Last game was the first time he took a foul like jumper and that teardrop as well. He can score on more than dunks. I think Dan is working up to it. There were a few times St. Johns completely left him along and at some point he will get a green light in that situation.

I'm not worried about his offense, he has more offense than Donovan. Defensively he and the staff need to put him in a place to succeed. He had some success playing in from of Soriano and denying him the ball. I think that is probably how he needs to play big centers. His recovery on hedges can be better. Needs to not chase quite so far.

I’d like more rebounds and blocks. Seems to get knocked out of position too easily.

 

[Bboy Lace]

Singare will get some good experience in the next few weeks.

 

[caw]

I posted in another thread, those two shots he made against SJU reminded me a lot of Oso. Obviously not the same stage of development with Samson missing a year and Oso being a senior but that would be a pretty ideal player to model his game after.