It's been just over 36 months since Jermaine Samuels first settled into life as a Villanova Basketball player. In June 2017 he made the trek from his home in Franklin, Mass., to begin a college journey that is now more than 75 percent complete.
To call that period eventful is an understatement.
As a freshman in the fall of '17, Samuels endured a difficult transition to the college game as he adjusted from operating as a 6-7 interior player in high school to a perimeter role. When he appeared to be on the precipice of a breakthrough in a 15-point effort in a BIG EAST Conference opening night win at DePaul, he learned afterward that he had suffered a broken bone in his right (shooting) hand that would sideline him for the better part of two months. When he returned to the lineup, the Wildcats were steaming towards the 2018 NCAA national championship with Samuels seeing only occasional duty.
In 2018-19, after the departure of four key members of the championship squad, Samuels stepped into the playing rotation. For much of the campaign, his contributions came in the intangible areas of defense and rebounding. Finally, on "Senior Night" he exploded for 29 points to help lift the Wildcats past Marquette 67-61 and on to a fast track to the BIG EAST regular season title.
Last season, Samuels and classmates Collin Gillespie and Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree were tasked with helping to guide a unit without a scholarship senior as third year members of the program. Villanova rebounded from an early season 76-51 defeat at Ohio State to deliver a 24-7 campaign that included a share of the BIG EAST regular season title. Along the way, Samuels developed a knack for clutch buckets, including a 3-pointer off a feed from Gillespie that helped Nova take down No. 1 Kansas 56-55 at the Wells Fargo Center on Dec. 22.
Lately, Samuels has been at home in Massachusetts, grappling with the ramifications of COVID-19 and matters of social justice in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd last month in Minneapolis after being stopped by police.
"It's been a stressful time because the same thing repeatedly keeps happening in our society," he says. "I hate to say that this death is a good thing – it's not. It's tragic. But I also think it represents something else. It brought everybody together to try to end a problem that's been going on in America for so long. It doesn't matter what race you are. You can see on TV and social media that everyone is trying to do their part to fight for change."
For his part, Samuels has made having continued dialogue about social justice a priority.
"For me personally, I feel like change comes when you have those difficult conversations, (when) you challenge someone to come out of their shell to not be embarrassed about not knowing the answer," he says. "I just try to offer anyone the chance to ask those difficult questions of me.
"Not everyone necessarily has the outlet to ask. You may see something on Twitter or videos and have questions. It's something different to talk to a Black man or a Black woman about this. I think it can give people an understanding of why a certain situation is so serious or why a certain topic is so serious. I try to invite those uncomfortable conversations because that is the only way change can come. That's how you get the ball rolling."
This type of dialogue has been a central topic of recent Zoom meetings the Wildcats have held.
"Those have honestly been amazing," states Samuels. "Coach (Jay Wright) has given us the chance to just talk and be honest with each other, coaching staff included. Everyone has something to say. We have no problem talking about things that are difficult. I think it's pretty cool that our team can sit down and talk and vent at such a difficult time."
During the pandemic that halted the BIG EAST Tournament before it began for the Wildcats on March 11, Samuels has done his best to stay dialed in on the basketball court. He's had access to a gymnasium not far from home and that's allowed him to get plenty of individual technique work done. But he concedes that the abrupt ended to 2019-20 hit him hard.
"I was devastated by it," he recalls. "In a matter of about two hours we went from preparing to play a game to having the Big East and NCAA Tournaments cancelled. For me personally, it all hit me at once. We were getting better and then it's just over. There is nothing we can do about this.
"Coach gave a speech in the locker room and talked about the season, how we should be proud of it. Once the coaches left, I kind of broke down in front of Collin and DaDa (Cosby-Roundtree). This was one of my favorite groups to have been a part of and we didn't really get a chance to prove ourselves.
"COVID is terrible. We know how many families have struggled with it. Our disappointment as players and coaches in the big picture can't compare. But on that day, it was tough to process."
The Wildcats do have a promising 2020-21 campaign on the horizon. Julius Erving Award winner Saddiq Bey is off to the NBA Draft, but the rest of the team's core returns intact. Nova also adds two gifted performers who sat out as redshirts last season – transfer guard Caleb Daniels and freshman forward Eric Dixon. Furthermore, Samuels, Gillespie and Cosby-Roundtree have a firm handle on what it takes to help guide a young group.
"It took a little while for me to understand what it meant to be a Villanova Basketball leader," Samuels says. "As time went on, having conversations with Coach Wright, Nards (Mike Nardi), Nep (Kyle Neptune), George (George Halcovage), you start to figure it out.
"Coach told me my job was to get better every day – it wasn't to be perfect or to be hitting the big shots, even though that happened randomly. My job was to go out there and lead by example by playing as hard as possible so the young guys could see what it's like. To me last season was just about me finally breaking through to be a complete Villanova Basketball player while continuing to be coachable."
Earlier this week Villanova President Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A., announced via email and a video that the University will begin in-person instruction for the fall semester on Aug. 17.
"I was ecstatic when I saw that," he says. "The video made me miss the campus even more than I already did. I miss it so much."
Of course, there is uncertainty about what college athletics competition will look like in 2020-21 with COVID-19 still very much a reality.
"I don't really think too much about it," states Samuels. "I feel confident in the safety procedures our team and University community will take to keep us as safe as possible."
Not too long into the pandemic the realization that his final year at Villanova was already underway struck Samuels.
"It's a little scary to think that this is the last go-round," he notes.
And while he understands there is a measure of uncertainty attached to how it will all play out in the months ahead, Samuels will bring back to campus a great appreciation for his college experience.
"The University has been everything to me," states Samuels. "I feel like I wouldn't be the man I am today without Villanova. Just the community – the faculty, the students, the administration. To me, the community is unlike anything I've probably experienced as far as caring and loving and being open to each other. I may have taken it for granted before, but I've really missed that in this time we've spent away."
The 2019-20 Villanova Basketball season – the program's 100th – is presented by Hartford Funds and Coca-Cola.
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Nova Notebook: As Senior Year Approaches, Samuels Reflects on His Time at Villanova - Villanova University Official Athletic Site
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