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[Lynn Burke]

Don't let his joking around fool you
By Jason Jordan | jjordan@dailypress.com

HAMPTON -- Samardo Samuels is a brute, 6-foot-8, 245-pound slab of man, with shoulders as wide as a small compact and eyebrows like hedgerows.

He lumbers onto the court Saturday morning with his Metro Hawks 17-and-under AAU team while Miami Tropics players take peripheral glances, ever-so-carefully avoiding eye contact as the intimidating figure approaches.

Samuels tucks in his shirt just before the tip and smiles.

It's just another team that he's fooled.

"It's funny," Samuels said of players' misconceptions. "They just don't know, I'm a comedian."

The Tropics weren't laughing after Samuels, despite playing limited minutes in the second half, scored 14 points, grabbed six rebounds and blocked eight shots in a 72-52 win at Holland Hall.

"Mardo's a sweetheart," Metro Hawks coach Karriem Memminger said. "He's big and strong and people think he's a mean guy, but the only time he's real aggressive like that is on the court. Off of the court he's a big clown."

Still, Samuels can understand why people would think otherwise.

Even the Metro Hawks 16-and-under team couldn't believe it when Samuels got on the bus joking and playing around Friday night.

"They were like, man, I thought you would be more serious and stuck-up," Samuels said. "I'm not like that at all. It's the opposite."

Samuels led St. Benedict's Prep in Newark, N.J., to a 24-1 record and averaged 19 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks a game this season.

In the tournament this weekend, Samuels overpowered defenders inside for his points, hit teammates cutting to the basket for easy layups and swatted and altered shots. He's a contrast to the new-age power forwards who are long and lean, make an occasional appearance inside and fly down the court at high rates of speed.

"People always ask me why I don't step out and shoot and things like that," Samuels said. "I've been playing down low and dominating. I just don't feel the urge to step out and shoot 3s."

Memminger added: "He stays in the paint and loves contact. People compare him to a bigger, more talented version of Elton Brand (of the Los Angeles Clippers)."

Samuels would say Carlos Boozer (of the Utah Jazz).

"We're both aggressive and play hard," he said. "That's how I've played ever since I came over here."

Samuels grew up in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and transferred to St. Benedict's three years ago. Since then, he's earned a rating of No. 7 in the 2008 class and heavy interest from top colleges.

His top three schools are North Carolina, Florida and Connecticut.

"Those are the ones who I would say are looking good," Samuels said. "I'm trying to figure out who the other two are going to be because I'm gonna take all five of my visits. But I'm not too worried about that."

Right now he's got more teams to fool.