It was less than a week ago. But it feels like so much longer. Seton Hall was scuffling, on the court and on the recruiting trail, closing the early signing period without a commitment and entering the Wooden Legacy Classic coming off a dismal home loss to Saint Louis.
So much, however, has changed since then. The young Pirates surprisingly won the tournament, knocking off Miami on Sunday night in Fullerton, Calif., and have landed a quality recruit each of the past two days.
Monday, three-star Bronx guard Dashawn Davis committed to coach Kevin Willard, and Tuesday it was four-star forward Tyrese Samuel of Canada.
“Their playing style fits me,” Samuel said of the Pirates in a phone interview. “When I went there, I felt it was genuine. I felt it was right for me. Basketball out there is really big. Coach Willard is a good guy and their coaching staff is really good. That was the main thing that really stood out to me.”
The 6-foot-3 Davis was an unheralded prospect who picked the Pirates over Old Dominion and St. John’s, though the Red Storm never offered him a scholarship. They beat out Wake Forest, Pittsburgh and Georgetown for the 6-foot-8 Samuel, a consensus top-100 recruit who attends powerhouse Orangeville (Ontario) Prep.
“He’s very versatile. He reminds me of an Eddie Griffin-[type forward],” said Dwayne Washington, his AAU coach with UPlay Canada, referring to the former Seton Hall star. “His game is more like a three, but his body is a four. He can get by anybody at his position. He can make plays from his position that most guys at his size can’t make. He’s got a great body — he’s on the all-airport team.”
Samuel, who last took an official visit to Pittsburgh, but also tripped to Wake Forest and Seton Hall, is a major win for Willard’s staff, which includes new assistant coaches Tony Skinn and Duane Woodward, the lead recruiter on Samuel. He is the first four-star recruit to pick Seton Hall out of high school since Myles Cale two years ago. He averaged seven points and 4.5 rebounds per game on the Nike EYBL circuit this spring and summer. Two Division I assistant coaches familiar with Samuel questioned his motor, but agreed he has a high ceiling and room to develop.
“He’s got a ton of upside,” one of the coaches said. “He can handle the rock, has long arms. I think he can contribute as a freshman.”
Samuel said he liked the vision the staff saw for him, and their plan to use him in a variety of ways. He was also drawn to the Pirates’ recent success, as they have reached the past three NCAA Tournaments.
“That,” he said, “was a really big factor.”