New York City point guard Terrence Samuel committed to the UConn basketball team back in September, good news for a program in need of it.
"[Samuel] is a throwback, he’s a point guard, he’s pass-first point guard who looks to make other people better,” New York recruiting expert Tom Konchalski told SNY.tv at the time. “He plays for result rather than for effect."
You know who else could use some good news? The UConn football team. Funny story: Samuel was a very good quarterback but his mother put the kibosh on that, preferring not to see her kid take a beating on the football field. Instead, Samuel focused on basketball.
"I've always been a UConn fan -- I wanted to play for the football team," he said according to the Hartford Courant's Dom Amore.
Unfortunately, coach Paul Pasqualoni's biggest issue isn't at quarterback (although if Samuel can call plays, there still might be a place for him on the team and he'd never have to take a hit). Either way, the high school senior doesn't sound like he has any regrets about his sport of choice or where he will be playing it in college.
"No, I never had any doubts," Samuel told Amore. "Coach Ollie is a great guy; he has always made me feel comfortable. UConn is where I want to go. … (First Night) was very exciting. I got there a little late, but the crowd was great -- the whole atmosphere was great."
Samuel committed to a program that has yet to commit to a coach. Jim Calhoun retired in early September and Kevin Ollie's contract expires in the spring. Presumably, his fate is tied to the Huskies' record. But Samuel -- like Louisville coach Rick Pitino -- thinks UConn already has their coach of the future.
"I'm confident coach Ollie will get the job (permanently)," he said. "I know he's going to do a great job."
