ISU lands big juco-- former BU recruit Brandon Sampay

[Da Coach]

Brandon Sampay (6'8", 255 lbs.), from Howard Junior College in Big Spring, TX, had verballed to Wichita State when Mark Turgeon was the coach, but he backed out of his verbal, and did more looking around. Today he committed to Illinois State.

Jucojunction article- probably requires password--

http://jucojunction.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=671418

"Tim Jankovich, the new head coach at Illinois State, made Brandon a top priority and was down here at Howard twice in one week."
Brandon averaged 13.6 ppg and 6.4 rebounds this season while shooting 60% from the floor.

Profile--

http://jucojunction.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=2&pr_key=58703

[amckillip]

Great Get for ISU!!

[BU Bill]

Nice scoop Coach!

The Redbird board hasn't learned of it yet!

[Da Coach]

Here is a post from a few weeks ago with more info about Sampay, when he was being recruited by Bradley. He is a big strong kid, maybe a little overweight, who will give ISU a bit of an inside game they would have lacked next year without Dilligard. He is from Howard Junior College in Big Spring, TX.--

http://www.bradleyfans.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=47654#47654

[bugregshu]

That commit right there is HUGE for the Redbirds. A top 5 finish in the valley is looking more and more likely for them.

[BradleyBrave]

Wow! I am impressed. That's an impact guy for ISU. If they don't push for the top 5 next year it will be a major disappointment.

[Da Coach]

Stats from the NJCAA website--
13.6 points per game
6.5 rebounds per game
1.5 assists per game
1.6 steals per game
60.3% FG
70.8% FT

Sampay is one of the few remaining decent juco big men left, and supposedly, Gregg Marshall really wanted to get him to recommit to Wichita State. I suspect playing time was a factor, as Levi Dyer is more of a perimeter player so Sampay and Anthony Slack are their only true inside players (not counting Odiakosa).

[it's boogie time]

Sounds like a solid pickup. They definitely needed a banger.

[Biff]

wanna read some sour grapes- here is what the Wichita State people are saying about losing out on Sampay to ISU

http://www.shockernet.net/sn/viewtopic.php?t=7967

[tornado]

Sampay was one of four guys on his Howard juco team who were named All Conference.
Even as recently as 2 weeks ago, Sampay said in a premium article interview that Wichita State (and new head coach Gregg Marshall) were still in the lead.

"I'd say that Wichita State is in the lead and is his favorite right now"

and "Wichita State is still in the lead"

........so I wonder what happened.
This is probably one of the best guys remaining out there, and
I think this is definitely a very good get for ISU.

Sampay has a very interesting career so far since high school.
He is originally from Inglewood, CA, but was not very strongly recruited out of HS.
Then in 2004 he committed to Howard junior college,
then after his freshman year at Howard, he transferred to NAIA Xavier College in New Orleans, but never played in 2005-2006, and sat out the year.
Then he transferred back to Howard for his soph year in 2006-2007.

Then when he committed to Wichita State, he seemed very strongly committed,
"I told our coach they (Wichita State) were recruiting me the hardest. They wanted me."
That meant everything to Sampay."
"He considered Cal-State Fullerton; but no other school seriously entered his mind"
(from 3/28/07)

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:g1FDq3xj6PQJ:www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/kansas/sports/colleges/wichita_state_university/16983759.htm%3Fsource%3Drss%26channel%3Dkansas_wichita_state_university+%22brandon+sampay%22+and+Inglewood%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=11&gl=us

Then he decommitted from Wichita State but still said they were his top choice, then he commits to Illinois State.
So ISU is now the fifth school (from high school to Howard, Xavier, Howard again, WSU, then ISU) in 3 years that he has committed to!

It seems he is a similar player to Rashad Austin.
Both are said to be strong, good rebounders, can hit a mid-range shot, and screen well.
Rashad averaged 13.1 points, 60% FG shooting, 7.9 rebounds and led his team to 7th place at the NJCAA National Tournament.
Brandon averaged 13.6 pts, 60% FG shooting, 6.5 rebounds and led his juco team to their Regional semis, losing to South Plains.

[vbird]

I heard he was ranked as the 15th best player on Jucojunction.com, but I checked the site and couldn't find the player rankings. Anyone know if you have to subscribe to get that info?

Regardless, as a Redbird fan, I couldn't be happier with this offseason. Seems as if everyone is staying, and a quality player added this late in the game by a coach only on the job for a month or two is impressive.

[DannyCooksey]

I knew this was close to happening as he enjoyed his visit last weekend, but you never know as he was rumored to like UCONN as well. Not sure if there was any truth to that.

Can't wait to see what he looks like after a summer and fall with Rohrk whipping him into shape at the Owen Strength and Conditioning Center.

Jank now has some viable options with this team going 10-11 deep. they can play a couple different styles and should be versatile enough to compete with a team like BU as well as a grind it out game against a team like SIU. Sure would be nice to actually beat those teams for once this year.

Boo/Rubin
OE/Odzic/Holtz/Holloway
Dom/Hill/Holloway
Sampay/Slack/Vandello
Dyer/Dinma

This has a chance to be a pretty darned good team. Potentially the best Redbird team since 2001 at least. Now I am very anxious to see Jank's offense come to life. I am excited to see what type of system he will run as he has been described as an offensive mastermind by some people. We shall see I guess, but this is a pretty talented, athletic roster.

[tornado]

I heard he was ranked as the 15th best player on Jucojunction.com, but I checked the site and couldn't find the player rankings. Anyone know if you have to subscribe to get that info?

Regardless, as a Redbird fan, I couldn't be happier with this offseason. Seems as if everyone is staying, and a quality player added this late in the game by a coach only on the job for a month or two is impressive.

vbird....

Jucojunction has two completely different sets of rankings from different contributors, both put out last fall, and there are no plans for updates this spring....but here they are:

Here is a Top-50 from 11/7/07 -- Sampay is not listed

http://jucojunction.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=1689

Here is a Top-125 from around the same time, and Sampay is this guy's #15

http://jucojunction.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=1690

If you are interested, here is their Top-100 from May of 2006, including those kids who finished juco in 2006

http://jucojunction.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=1199

he was rumored to like UCONN as well. Not sure if there was any truth to that..

Sampay did take a visit to UCONN, here is a story

http://blogs.courant.com/sports_uconn/2007/04/sampay_to_visit.html

I suspect Brandon knew if he went to UConn, he might not get the playing time as if he'd choose a mid-major, and that worked to ISU's advantage.

[vbird]

Thanks Tornado. I remember last year they did update their rankings in the spring.

DC, my bet is that Holloway plays more of the 2 and 1 spot than he does the 2 and 3 spot.

This team is as deep as it's been in quite awhile. I wonder how Holtz and Vandello are feeling right now. With every signing, they move further down the depth chart.

[DannyCooksey]

Thanks Tornado. I remember last year they did update their rankings in the spring.

DC, my bet is that Holloway plays more of the 2 and 1 spot than he does the 2 and 3 spot.

This team is as deep as it's been in quite awhile. I wonder how Holtz and Vandello are feeling right now. With every signing, they move further down the depth chart.

vbird

You are probably right on with Holloway and I thought I remember reading that Jank likes his height at PG.

If Vandello and Holtz are smart, they will feel good about getting a free education at a good school with the chance to be part of a winning team the next 2 years.

You are right though, their playing time was already scarce and now it has gotten even less. Then again it's usually a clean slate with a new coach so there's a chance if they work hard and fit in with what Jank is trying to do, they could see time. Something tells me that a shooter of Holtz's caliber can still be of use. Time will tell.