Samardo Samuels is a Jamaica

Jamaica

Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...

n professional basketball

Basketball

Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...

 player with the Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...

 of the NBA. He is a 6-foot-9-inch, 265-pound power forward

Power forward (basketball)

Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...

/center

Center (basketball)

The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...

 who attended college at the University of Louisville

University of Louisville

The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...

.

High school career

Samuels attended Saint Benedict's Preparatory School

Saint Benedict's Preparatory School

Saint Benedict's Preparatory School is a college preparatory school in Newark, New Jersey, United States. It is an all-boys, secondary school located on a urban campus serving students in the seventh through twelfth grades...

 in Newark, New Jersey

Newark, New Jersey

Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. Samuels was ranked 9th in the nation by Rivals.com

Rivals.com

Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...

 and 2nd in the nation by Scout.com. He, alongside class of 2010 star Tristan Thompson

Tristan Thompson

Tristan Trevor James Thompson is a Canadian basketball player who played for the 2010–11 Texas Longhorns men's basketball team. He is 6'9" and weighs 225 pounds. Thompson plays as a power forward...

 led St. Benedicts's Prep to a 24–1 record in the 2007–2008 season. At seasons end St. Benedict's was ranked #2 in the nation by USA Today

USA Today

USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...

. He played in the two top all-American games, the McDonald's All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic

Jordan Brand Classic

The Jordan Brand Classic, presented by Foot Locker is a high school All-Star basketball game played annually in April. The game's rosters feature the best and most highly-recruited high school boys in the senior class. The 2011 game will mark the 10th anniversary of the Jordan Brand Classic.The...

.

College career

Samuels decided to attend the University of Louisville

University of Louisville

The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...

 for college. He chose the Cardinals

Louisville Cardinals men's basketball

The Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team is the 18th winningest college basketball team in NCAA Division I history and has the 10th best winning percentage in college basketball history. Currently coached by Rick Pitino, the Cardinals of the University of Louisville have been to 37 NCAA...

 over Connecticut

Connecticut Huskies men's basketball

The Connecticut Huskies is the name of the men's college basketball team representing the University of Connecticut, in Storrs, Connecticut, USA. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big East Conference...

, Florida

Florida Gators men's basketball

The Florida Gators men's basketball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of basketball. The Gators compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Southeastern Conference...

, Georgetown and North Carolina. At Louisville, Samuels started every game that he played in and led the 2009-10 team in scoring and rebounding. After his sophomore year, he decided to skip his final two years of college eligibility and enter the 2010 NBA Draft

2010 NBA Draft

The 2010 NBA Draft was held on June 24, 2010 at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The draft, which started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur...

.

2010-2011

Samuels went undrafted, but played for the Chicago Bulls

Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...

 in the 2010 NBA Summer League

2010 NBA Summer League

The 2010 National Basketball Association Summer League was a pro basketball league ran by the NBA in the United States just following the 2010 NBA Draft. Teams consisted of players who have been in the league for three years or fewer as well as newly drafted talent. It gives rookies a chance to...

. He averaged 12.6 points and 7.4 rebounds. On August 17, 2010, Samuels signed a 3-year, $2.3 million dollar contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...

. A portion of the deal is guaranteed.

He debuted against the Toronto Raptors

Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...

, on October 29, and scored 7 points. On December 27, 2010 he was sent to the Erie BayHawks

Erie BayHawks

The Erie BayHawks are a 2008-09 expansion team in the NBA Development League. The team plays its home games at the Louis J. Tullio Arena in Erie, Pennsylvania.The "BayHawks" name is a reference to Presque Isle Bay, on which the city of Erie lies...

, the Cavs' affiliate in the NBA Development League

NBA Development League

The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...

. On January 1, after two games in the NBA D-League, he was recalled by the Cavs.

On March 2nd, 2011, Samuels made his first career start against the San Antonio Spurs in place of the injured Antawn Jamison and scored a career high 23 points while pulling down 10 rebounds.

Regular season

|-
| align="left" | 2010–11

2010–11 NBA season

The 2010–11 NBA season was the 65th season of the National Basketball Association . The 2011 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 20, 2011 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in six games, 4 games to 2, to win their first NBA title, and...

| align="left" | Cleveland

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...

| 37 || 10 || 18.9 || .456 || .000 || .618 || 4.3 || 0.5 || 0.4 || 0.5 || 7.8
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 37 || 10 || 18.9 || .456 || .000 || .618 || 4.3 || 0.5 || 0.4 || 0.5 || 7.8

Career highs

• Points: 23 vs. San Antonio 03/02/11
• Rebounds: 10 2 times
• Assists: 3 vs. San Antonio 03/02/11
• Steals: 3 @ L.A. Clippers 03/19/11
• Blocks: 3 vs. New Orleans 03/06/11

External links