It’s getting down to crunch time for Terrence Samuel.
Just a few weeks away from the start of his senior year, South Shore’s standout point guard is starting to think about what school best fits his versatile talents. The highly recruited 6-foot-4 Samuel has a top six of Tennessee, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pittsburgh, Dayton and Temple based on the relationships he has developed with coaches from each program and as of now plans to pick a school Nov. 1, according to Samuel and South Shore assistant coach Shawn Mark.
“It’s wherever I feel comfortable,” said Samuel, who led South Shore to the Smartball Classic title on Thursday with seven points, eight rebounds and seven assists in a 62-51 victory over Bayside at Abraham Lincoln Playground in Harlem. “Good graduation rate, where I’m going to play. Distance [from home] doesn’t matter. It’s whoever I like. Every school is a good opportunity. At the end of the day, it’s what fits me.”
He will visit all six schools between now and then. Of the six schools, Samuel has only visited Temple and will see the Owls again shortly. Samuel doesn’t have a favorite among the six, saying he feels comfortable with assistant and head coaches from all the schools.
Samuel, who has led South Shore to back to back PSAL Class AA quarterfinal berths, singled out UConn head coach Jim Calhoun and assistant Kevin Ollie; Rhode Island head man Dan Hurley and assistant Bobby Hurley; Dayton assistant Allen Griffin, a Brooklyn product and former Robeson star; Pittsburgh head coach Jamie Dixon; Temple head coach Fran Dunphy and assistant Dwayne Killings; and Tennessee head coach Cuonzo Martin and assistant Jon Harris.
“They always tell me the right things every time I speak with them,” said Samuel, who plans to major in sports management or business in college.
Samuel isn’t quite sure how he will pick a school yet considering he hasn’t been to five of the six schools. After the visits, he will sit down with his family and South Shore coaches Mike Beckles and Mark and go over the positives and negatives of each situation. At that point, he will choose, as difficult as that may be.
“It’s tough, but I have to go somewhere,” Samuel said. “I’m trying to go to college, play ball, achieve my goals.”
Manhattan Center trio leads Milbank to 16U title: Wadleigh has owned PSAL Manhattan Class AA boys basketball for the better part of the last decade. Manhattan Center’s impressive trio of Nyk King, Khalil Hamer and Joshua Ortiz feels that is about to change.
The three have spent the summer playing together, on the AAU circuit with New Heights and in local tournaments with Milbank. They led Millbank to the Smartball Classic 16U title, 63-44 over the Brooklyn Ballers, on Thursday night in Harlem. King was the named the tournament MVP after posting 15 points, five steals and four assists. Ortiz added 10 points. Jabari Noez had 17 points for the Brooklyn Ballers.
“Me, Khalil and Josh are ready to prove a point,” King said. “We’re gonna take [Wadleigh] this year.”