Sophomore year 2024-25 at Johnson County

Helped Johnson County to undefeated conference championship season, a 31-6 overall mark and an eight-place finish at the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II National Tournament … Selected to the NJCAA D-II National All-Tournament team … Named second-team All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College and All-Region 6 Division II and was selected the Defensive Player of the Year … Was the second on the team in scoring with an average of 12.8 point per game … Upped that to 14.6 in conference play … His 12.8 per game average ranked eighth in the conference and his 475 total points were the second most scored during the season … Led the conference with 70 made 3-point field goals … Ranked second on the team and tied for 10^th in the conference with 44 steals … Shot 40.2 percent from the field (173-430) and 78.7 from the free throw line (59-75) … Reached double figures scoring in a team high 27 games … Was the top scorer in nine games, once led in rebounds and assists and led in steals 12 times … Scored in double figures for the first time as a Cavaliers finishing with 10 points in a 78-66 victory over Iowa Lakes (11-8-24) … Tallied 13 points and six rebounds in a 68-59 win over Southeast (11-12-24) … Scored in double digits in nine straight games beginning with 13 in an 88-62 win over Sterling JV (11-22-24) … Made both 3-point shots and 5-of-6 overall for 12 points in a 97-41 win over Saint Mary JV (12-3-24) … Hit 8-of-19 shots, including 5-of-9 from 3-point range, to finish with 21 points in a 74-68 loss at No. 1-ranked North Central Missouri (12-7-24) … Led JCCC with 14 points and added five rebounds and two steals to help JCCC to an 89-47 victory and avenge an early season loss to the Comets (12-13-24) … Hit 5-of-13 shots with two treys and 6-of-7 free throws for 18 points in an 89-77 win over Metropolitan (1-3-25) … Opened conference play with 15 points, three rebounds and three steals in a 75-63 win over Neosho County (1-11-25) … Ended the nine game string with 18 points on 5-of-9 shooting, 3-of-5 from 3-point range and 5-of-8 at the line to help the Cavaliers to 77-72 win at Kansas City Kansas (1-15-25) … Flirted with a double-double finishing with 11 points and eight boards along with three assists and two steals in a 72-60 win at Allen (1-22-25) … Drained 7-of-8 shots with one 3-ponter and all four free throws for 19 points in a 90-77 win at Fort Scott (1-29-25) … Also had seven rebounds, three assists and two steals against the Greyhounds … Was a perfect 6-for-6 on his way to 15 points in a 77-62 win over Hesston (2-1-25) … Led JCCC with 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting with four 3-pointers and two free throw in a 71-51 win at Neosho County (2-5-25) … Made 6-of-9 shots including two treys for 14 points in a 91-60 win at Labette (2-20-25) … Had 12 points, five rebounds, two steals and two blocks in an 80-74 victory over Fort Scott (2-22-25) … Made 4-of-7 3-point baskets and 9-of-15 overall to lead JCCC with 23 points in an 86-67 win over Hesston (2-26-25) … Had a tremendous performance at the NJCAA Division II National Tournament … Was the Cavaliers top scorer in all four games … Averaged 21.3 points over the four games in the tournament and his 85 total points and 32 made field goals set a new team record … His per game average ranks as the fourth-best in tournament history by a Cavalier … Also tied the tournament record for made 3-point baskets with 13 … Delivered an overpowering performance in JCCC’s 90-63 win over rival No. 19 Kansas City Kansas in the first game of the consolation bracket, scoring a career-best 35 points – a program record in NJCAA Division II Tournament play (3-19-25) … Connected for 14-of-19 shots, including 7-of-11 from 3-point range, setting new team tournament records for points … Also set a new game record with 14 field goals made and tied the game with for 3-point baskets with seven … Opened the tournament with a team-high 13 points in a 77-48 loss to No. 9 Macomb (3-17-25) … Poured in 17 points to help JCCC get past No. 20 Henry Ford in the consolation semifinals, 81-75 (3-21-25) … Had 20 points and four steals in the 94-68 loss to No. 10 Florida State at Jacksonville in the consolation final (3-22-25).

Freshman Year 2023-24 at State Fair

Appeared in 30 games, 11 as a starter,  for coach Matt Brown at State Fair Community College, Sedalia, Mo. … Averaged 9.7 points 2.7, rebounds, 1.9 assists … Shot 42.7 percent from the field, 35.8 percent from 3-point range and 63.0 percent from the free throw line … Reached double figures in 12 games and topped 20+ points three times … Began his college career by knocking down 8-of-11 shots including two 3-pointers and a free throw for 19 points to lead the Roadrunners to a 93-57 victory over Missouri Valley JV (11-1-23) … Also had five rebounds and two steals in the victory … Drained 6-of-7 shots from 3-point range and hit 10-of-14 overall to finish with a season-high 26 points in a -77 loss to North Platte (11-17-23) … A day later poured in 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting with four treys in a narrow 76-72 loss to Kansas City Kansas (11-18-23) … Topped double digits scoring for a third straight game with 14 points in a 57-52 victor over Neosho County (11-22-23) … Led State Fair with 16 points and five assists in an 80-77 setback to Link Year Prep (1-6-24) … Was the Roadrunners top player in a 69-66 win over Three Rivers, finishing with 22 points, five rebounds, four steals and two assists (1-20-24) … Recorded 12 points and four steals in a 59-48 loss at Moberly Area (2-17-24) … Led the team with 16 points and grabbed five boards in a 59-48 loss at Mineral Area (2-24-24) … Followed with 17 points in an 81-76 victory over Three Rivers (2-28-24).

High School

Was a three-time starter for coaches Tony Philips and Josh Buffington at Jefferson City High School, Jefferson City, Mo … Graduated 2023 … Was two-time All-Central Missouri Athletics Circuit first-team and All-District first-team selection … Was also twice named to the Great 8 Classic All-Tournament team … Averaged 12.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists as a junior and 17.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assist his senior year … Scored over 1,092 points in his career, seventh all-time in program history … Helped lead the Jaybirds to two District Championships and a third-place finish at Missouri Class 5 State Tournament his senior year, finishing 24-8 overall … Played club basketball for MP J Elite, Missouri Hawks and Marcus Denmon Elite … Also earned one varsity letter in football … National Honor Society member.

Personal

Born Steven Matthew Samuels on July 4, 2005, in Jefferson City, Mo. … Nickhame is Stevio … Son of Steven and Hannah Samuels … Has two siblings, Stevenette and Stevian … Major is undecided … Also recruited by Cloud County Community College, Iowa Central Community College, North Central Missouri College, North Dakota SCS and State Fair Community College … Favorite foods are orange chicken and wings … Favorite fast food restaurant is Hawaiian Bros … Favorite restaurant is Jerk Hut … Favorite TV show is Stranger Things … Favorite movie are Spider Man Across the Spider Verse, Black Panther and Friday … Favorite sports movie is Creed … Favorite books is 58 Laws of Power … Favorite music entertainer is Gunna … Favorite cartoon character is Chicken Joe … Favorite athletes are Jalen Brunson, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Isaiah Thomas … Favorite sports teams are the New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Detroit Lions and Houston Texans … His greatest sports moment was helping his team advance to state for the first time in 20 years … Best player he has played against is Oklahoma Sooners forward Luke Northweather … Notable alumni from his school are former MFL players Justin Gage, Steve Martin, Justin Smith and Sylvester Williams.