:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69351653/Kevin_Samuel.0.0.jpg)
The turnstile continues to, well, turn, for TCU Basketball, but the latest exit isn’t a player that the program was expecting back.
According to sources, including college basketball insider Jeff Goodman, Kevin Samuel has entered the transfer portal, meaning even if he doesn’t pursue a professional career, he will not be returning to the Horned Frogs.
The transfer portal has told me that it has two additions thus far today:
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) May 27, 2021
- TCU junior big man Kevin Samuel (8.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg)
- Fordham sophomore guard Chris Austin (11.4 ppg)
Samuel has spent four years at TCU, graduating this past spring and is technically a redshirt junior. He will be immediately eligible as a graduate transfer at his next destination.
A top ten prospect in the state out of high school, Samuel started 95 games for TCU after redshirting his first year on campus. An elite interior player, Samuel shot nearly 65% from the field and became TCU’s all-time leader in blocked shots with 206 in his career. He averaged 8.7 points and 7.7 rebounds in his career, including career highs of 10ppg and 8.4 rpg as a sophomore.
Samuel’s Achilles Heel was his free throw shooting: just 39.8% for his career. But he was dominant defensively (1.7 blocks and a steal per game), and caused matchup problems for Big 12 teams down low. When he was on his A game, he rebounded at an elite rate, and could dominate a game from the glass.
TCU Basketball has lost nine players to the transfer portal and doesn’t expect back a tenth — RJ Nembhard who is “all in” on his professional career. Samuel joins PJ Fuller, Taryn Todd, Jaedon LeDee, Terren Frank, Kevin Easley, Diante Smith, Owen Aschieris, and Dylan Arnette to have entered the portal since the start of last season. The Frogs will look to rebuild around star point guard Mike Miles and Texas Tech transfer Micah Peavy after the first losing season of Jamie Dixon’s career.