St. Benedict's star a good fit for Pitino, Cardinals

	St. Benedict's Prep star forward Samardo Samuels expects to play right away at Louisville. Mike Delfin/RISE

Sitting in Rick Pitino's office on the University of Louisville campus last Sunday, St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.) power forward Samardo Samuels felt comfortable. By the end of a long conversation with the legendary coach he had committed to the Cardinals.

"Coach Pitino told me that I'm a good player, but he can make me better," said Samuels, 6-foot-8, 240-pound rising senior who is rated No. 6 in the class of 2008 by Rivals.com. "He said he had Jamal Mashburn and he sees similarities between me and him."

Samuels, who came to the United States from Jamaica in 2004, has exhibited an ability to overpower opponents down low and maintain a midrange game from the high post as well. "They have no one else in my position so when I come I can start and play right away," said Samuels. "I can work on my game from Day 1 and take care of business."

While many believed that Samuels would commit to North Carolina, the son of a cab driver father and homemaker mother, who both still live in Jamaica, took unofficial visits to Carolina, Florida, Rutgers and UConn in recent months.

"Louisville is a good atmosphere where I can play basketball and handle the school work," Samuels said. "Carolina may have a nicer campus, but I think Louisville had the best of what I need."

No pre-set date had been determined by Samuels as to when he would decide on a school, but he said that he had grown tired of the process and is looking forward to playing in the NBA Players Association camp as well as the Amare Stoudemire Nike skills camp and the LeBron James Skills Academy in July. "This frees up my mind to get down to workouts and playing this summer," said Samuels.