Former Louisville basketball star to return stateside for Big 3

One former Louisville basketball star will return stateside to participate in the up-and-coming Big 3 basketball league.

The highest-ranked signee in Louisville basketball history will return to the United States to play professional basketball for the first time since 2013.

If you’re a Louisville recruiting nerd like myself, it shouldn’t be hard to figure out who I’m referring to. If not, I’ll make it easy for you – it’s Samardo Samuels.

Samuels was ranked as the number four player coming out of St. Benedict Prep and number one center in the class of 2008, ultimately choosing to sign with the University of Louisville to play with then-head coach Rick Pitino.

After a shaky, but impressive two years at Louisville, Samuels left early for the 2010 NBA Draft going undrafted before playing three years with the Cleveland Cavaliers, post-LeBron James.

Since then the 6’9, 270-pound big man has seen basketball take him all over the world, making stops in the NBA Development League, Israel, Italy, Spain, China, Italy again, Belgrade, and France.

Now at the ripe age of 30 with nine seasons of experience under his belt, Samardo Samuels is returning to the United States since his departure from the Reno Bighorns in 2013 to play professional basketball.

He’ll do so in the up-and-coming Big 3 basketball league, according to a release.

According to Big3.com, Samuels has signed with the Trilogy, replacing former lottery pick Patrick O’Bryant.

The veteran big man will join a team featuring former NBA players Jason Terry, Carlos Arroyo, and James White, coached by another fairly dominant big man that Cards fans are familar with, Kenyon Martin.

According to the Big 3 website, Trilogy currently hold a 3-2 record overall and sits in a two-way tie for fourth place, with just a few weeks left in the 2019 season. Samuels will make his debut on August 10th, when the team goes head-to-head with Ghost Ballers led by Mike Bibby and Ricky Davis.

To most Louisville fans, Samardo Samuels is a mostly forgotten name that is only brought up in conversations surrounding players who didn’t live up to expectations.

Coming in as a five-star, top-five player in 2008, joining a squad that featured Earl Clark, Terrence Williams, Jerry Smith, and Egar Sosa, Samuels was expected to be the final piece to a National Championship run. We know how that ended.

Samuels had a nice sophomore season but was marred by inconsistent play and a lack of focus at times. I talked with Samardo a few years ago in an interview for CardinalSports.com (Rivals) and asked him about why he left Louisville early and if he regretted it. His answer was one that still interests me. He said:

"“From a basketball standpoint it would have been the right decision to go back one more year, but at that time I was eager to take care of my family financially.”"

Post-college, Samuels showed flashes of brilliance at the NBA playing alongside Kyrie Irving, but never was able to get a second chance once the Cavaliers moved on. Since then, he’s been good and he’s been average, but overall he’s had a nice career across Europe and in China, making quite a bit of money,

This opportunity to return back to where it all started will hopefully end in redemption. Samuels size and strength should make him an ideal fit in a half-court 3 on 3 game that features old school big men, playing traditional roles. His ability to rebound, block shots, and score at the rim could make him one of the most dangerous bigs in the entire league.

Playing with his back to the basket was where we saw Samuels most comfortable across his collegiate and NBA career, and hopefully, for him, he’ll be able to show that he still has enough game to one day return to the playing at the highest level.