University of Louisville sophomore forward Samardo Samuels will compete as a member of the Jamaican National Basketball team in the 20th Carribean Basketball Championship (CBC) to be held through July 4 in Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
Team Jamaica will face Trinidad and Tobago in its opening game on Tuesday. The team is coached by Sam Vincent, former head coach of the NBA Charlotte Bobcats who played seven years in the NBA for Boston, Seattle, Chicago and Orlando.
Samuels, who hails from Trelawny, Jamaica, scored a game-high 21 points to lead Team Jamaica to a 107-56 victory over a team of NBL (National Basketball League of Jamaica) All-Stars last Friday in its final exhibition game. The Jamaicans beat that same NBL team last Tuesday 96-57 during its preparations for the upcoming tournament.
Samuels' 11.8 scoring average last season was the seventh-highest ever for a freshman at Louisville. He ranked 11th in the BIG EAST in blocked shots (1.3) and was seventh in field goal percentage (.578). A member of the BIG EAST All-Rookie team, he grabbed 4.9 rebounds a game and his 51 dunks were the second most ever in a single season at U of L. The Cardinals posted a 31-6 record last season, won the BIG EAST regular season and tournament championships and reached the NCAA Elite Eight.
The Jamaican team also features two other BIG EAST Conference players: Providence forward Weyinmi Efejuku of Providence and Rutgers guard Mike Coburn. Jamaica last won the CBC title in 2006. Team Jamaica will face The Bahamas on Wednesday before playing Barbados in it final group match on Thursday.
