SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— Drury University men's basketball head coach
Steve Hesser announced the signing of guard Myles Samuels out of DME Sports Academy in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Originally from Wellington, Florida, the 6-5, 190-pound guard played in 40 games for the prep school and shot 49 percent from the field while averaging 7.1 points per game. Samuels helped his Wellington High School team to a state runner-up finish in Class 9A and 25-7 record as a senior in 2019. The team was also in the state semifinals in his sophomore campaign.
"We want to welcome Myles and his family to Springfield," said coach Hesser. "Myles gives us a skilled, big guard that has playmaking ability either for himself or his teammates. Anytime you can add his level of skill at his size, you have a chance to be a special player. We are thrilled Myles chose to be a Drury Panther."
At DME Sports Academy, Samuels played for a prep school program founded by Dan Panaggio and his son Mike Panaggio. Dan Panaggio was a professional basketball coach for more than 30 years that included stops in the Continental Basketball Association where he won two CBA championships, the NBA Developmental League, as well as Europe and China. He was also an assistant coach in the NBA with Portland and the Los Angeles Lakers. Samuels' team went 32-8 during their 2019-20 schedule.
Samuels is the fifth signing announced by the Drury men's basketball program for the 2020-21 season. The Panthers have also announced the additions of
Riley Naeger (F, 6-7, 210, Festus, Mo. – St. Pius X High School),
Ben Palacios (G/F, 6-4, 192, Lee's Summit, Mo. – St. Michael the Archangel High School),
Josh Wallace (F, 6-6, 215, St. Louis, Mo. – Christian Brothers / Strength N Motion International Academy) and
Quenton Shelton (G., 6-2, 185, Lebanon, Mo.)
The Panthers finished the 2019-20 season 20-9, and 13-7 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Drury will return nine lettermen, including All-Midwest Region and First Team All-GLVC selection
Conley Garrison.
#MoreThanChampions
