Photo by: Tommy Martino
Jared Samuelson’s Montana families
4/3/2020 10:01:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Glenn Junkert
For GoGriz.com
It doesn't take long for Jared Samuelson to name his inspirations.
"It's easy," he said. "The biggest influence in my life is my daughter, Jordyn Samuelson…
"Also my fiancé, Kylie Nielsen...
"My mom, Kim Potter. My brother, Shane Samuelson. My dad, Shawn Samuelson."
The senior power forward, a lifelong Montanan and Billings native – reflecting on the Montana map he's traveled as one of the state's best basketball players over the past decade – finds it easy and important to credit various aspects of family.
Speaking last month, before his senior season and career came to an abrupt ending, he added another family to the list – his Montana teammates.
It was family that initially led him to Missoula to play in a Montana jersey, tracing the footsteps of his father, Shawn Samuelson, who played for the Grizzlies from 1992-96.
And it was the call of family that led him back to Billings after his first two seasons as a Griz. Back in Billings, he earned NAIA All-America status playing for Rocky Mountain College. In Billings, he was with his fiancé, Kylie, and also present when Jordyn, now nearing her second birthday, was born.
But eventually – after earning a degree in business management from Rocky – Samuelson decided to re-join teammates in Missoula to play his senior season with the Grizzlies, and to complete important studies to earn his master's in business administration from UM this spring.
The redshirt senior took 17 credits in the fall and is now working toward the final 15 this spring, which have all been moved to online classes due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
"The MBA program here at UM is incredible," Samuelson said. "I haven't had a professor here that I haven't absolutely enjoyed their class. I can easily say I've learned a ton. It's been incredible."
For Samuelson, it meant an intense daily classroom schedule, followed by equally intense Griz basketball practices that consumed the remainder of his days. That's not counting the evening study sessions, of course.
It hasn't been easy, and along the way there have been unanticipated setbacks – a major one being a preseason knee injury. In a September workout, Samuelson tore the meniscus in his right knee. The ensuing surgery forced him to miss the first four games of the season, but even then, fans could see, at times, that Samuelson wasn't at full strength.
"I was in the training room, strengthening it up constantly," said Samuelson, noting he spent at least an hour rehabbing his knee every day of the season. "When it's visible on-court, it's probably because of a bump, or a knee-to-knee impact and it'll flare up."
The result of constant work and endless rehab was a steady improvement. In the process, he saw his on-floor minutes multiply, and finally by the end of December, near the start of conference play, he felt his game was shaping into top-level form.
"I realized then that things were going to be OK for me, that I was getting into a rhythm and getting a better feel for how I play the game as well. It's nice to realize you're gaining strength and speed through the recovery process."
"In that game I shot 100 percent from the floor, and I realized that I finally had my feet under me, that finally my legs felt strong, and that I was getting into a rhythm with my shots. That game was really a turning point for me," Samuelson reflected.
Two nights later, in Montana's 52-50 win over Sacramento State, Samuelson scored a team-high 14 points. The following game, a 60-58 road win over Southern Utah, Samuelson once again was the team leader, scoring a then-career-high 21 points.
Samuelson continued to make his mark, starting 20 of Montana's final 21 games. During league play, he averaged 10.3 points per game and shot .603 from the floor.
Though slightly undersized at the post, at 6-7, Samuelson was Montana's most consistent paint producer, sporting a strong shooting percentage. Not intimidated by larger defenders, Samuelson perfected a front-court, post-up presence that featured a smooth fade-back, mid-paint hook shot and low-wing post shot that he would bank high off the backboard.
He's extremely accurate with both shots, both of which are nearly impossible for defenders to block. He can shoot both quickly, whether taking a direct pass from a guard, or by dribbling for position with his back to his defender.
Samuelson learned the mechanics of his post-up form from another Samuelson, and another Griz great.
"My dad actually taught me how to post up and shoot at a really young age, and I've been working on the form of that shot as long as I've been playing," Samuelson said with a proud grin.
"I love to set up into the post, establish contact, and go up at the same time I'm creating separation while moving into a rhythm hook shot," he said. "A lot of times, the success of a rhythm hook shot is to release it with confidence so that it thinks it'll go in. Confidence is the factor for me."
It's only one part of his offensive arsenal that Griz fans saw throughout the season. When opposing teams would seal up the paint, Samuelson would float to the perimeter, or slide past a high-post screen to the perimeter. Whether at the top of the key, or a few feet to either side, his long-range shots were nearly as accurate as his shots down low.
Despite playing the post position, Samuelson connected on 19 3-pointers, at a .463 clip. His deep presence is where he said he had the most impact on a game against critical Big Sky opponents.
"My personal strengths as a player, given my size, are first my inside game, and then being able to stretch the floor on the perimeter from the 5 spot," Samuelson said. "When other teams focus on doubling Sayeed (Pridgett) on the inside, or when my guy's sagging off, it helps by being able to score the 3 when defenses collapse.
"Whether it's down low or on the perimeter, I take pride in shooting a high-percentage shot from inside or outside, and it's something I work hard on every single day."
Samuelson's role as a senior, both as a player and vocal leader, played a vital role in Montana's success.
"Jared's been a special addition to this Griz team this year," head coach Travis DeCuire said in March. "Just in his heart, and what Grizzly basketball means to him as a person and player, he's raised the Griz to another level. For a team that's been on a journey like us, to have someone like him in the locker room to say all the right things at the right times has been huge, and his leadership has been important to us."
After beginning his career at Montana before transferring to Rocky Mountain College, Samuelson could have ended his basketball career there – as an NAIA All-American. He could have stayed for his final season at Rocky, while working toward a graduate degree.
But, for Samuelson, there was no question that he wanted to return to where it all began, creating one of the unique stories in all of college basketball.
"I returned to this program with the mindset that I'm going to help this team, regardless of my role, and I feel that's what I've done," he said. "I'm just happy to be here to enjoy this last year here as a Griz."
Samuelson likens the growth in skill, teamwork and chemistry of the team… well, as another type of family effort.
"At the beginning of the year, we were trying to figure out who we were as a team," Samuelson said. "We had a couple of rough stretches, a couple of bad games. We had a lot of young guys and we were trying to figure out how to get everyone in sync on the floor. It affected me coming back, as well. I'm a veteran, but also a rookie at the same time after two years of absence.
"The cool thing about this team was, game by game, we just kept bringing it with everything we had, and the neat thing about that was it started to build up family chemistry with the whole team."
The season, unfortunately, got cut short. After leading the league for most of the year, Montana entered the Big Sky tournament with a realistic chance to become the first Griz team to ever win three straight tournament titles – and the first Big Sky team to do so in 40 years.
We, of course, will never know how things would have turned out last month in Boise, but know this: Samuelson, among others, believed the Grizzlies had the mindset to reach their goals.
"Playing for Montana, you really do have to walk onto the court with a chip on your shoulder and know that everyone is against the Griz. That's what makes it fun. You've also got to be able to fight to win a game, regardless of how much the other team wants to knock you out."
It's a challenge Samuelson relishes.
"You know, this is a game that we all fell in love with, it's not something that we should be nervous about playing. Of course there were days and games where I was nervous, but also excited, so I'd tell myself to ignore the pressure and trust the process."
His senior season was special for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, he got to return to where it began for him – and where his dad suited up. He got to play once again in front of Griz Nation. He proved that he had what it took to play again at the Division-I level.
Sure, there are the thoughts of how it all ended so abruptly and what could have been. But also, for Samuelson, he can look back and be proud of what was accomplished, and how it was accomplished.
"The struggles our team faced early on helped us build chemistry off the court," Samuelson said. "Every single guy bought into the family."
That atmosphere, he said, started from the top.
"All of the coaches are family. They push us to our limits, but they show every game that they really care about all of us. I'm just happy I was able to be around these coaches again. They're all unique and have a lot of different background influences and have incredible basketball IQ. All of us players have a lot of respect for these coaches. I love it, and I know the whole team does."
It should be no surprise that Samuelson's most consistent focus as a student, basketball player, and person revolve around the concept of family.
"My whole family has been influential, in all honesty," Samuelson said. "I can't say it's one person more than another; they're all supportive in similar ways."
One of those influences is his father, Shawn, who was a teammate of DeCuire's in the mid-1990s. Shawn Samuelson finished his career ranked in the top six in school history for both scoring and rebounding. In 1994, he led the Griz for rebounding, blocked shots and free-throw shooting. The two-time All-Big Sky selection finished his career with more than 1,200 career points.
"I really liked watching his Griz highlights when I was a kid, and listening to his stories of him playing here," Samuelson said. "Above anything else, I'm pretty happy I got to finish out my career here like my dad did."
"I'm very proud," Shawn Samuelson said. "As a father, I'm 100 percent behind Jared and just super proud of everything he's accomplished."
The list of accomplishments is long… Being an all-conference-caliber player, despite dealing with a knee injury. Finishing his MBA degree in a year. Supporting his fiancé and daughter while being away.
"He's had a lot on his plate, and I'm really proud of everything he's done," Shawn Samuelson said.
"I came here nearly 30 years ago, and I wanted to have 'Montana' across my chest, so it's been really great to see this continue with Jared coming here. It does really mean something. Roots mean a lot. My family roots have been and will always be in Montana."
So too for Jared Samuelson.
"It's simply amazing to be a Griz. It's crazy to think that four years ago I was sitting here as a redshirt freshman. It's been unbelievable, honestly. I just take a lot of pride in being a Montana Grizzly. It means a lot to me and always will be."
With his basketball career now behind him, Samuelson has once again transitioned from one family to another. He's back in Billings with his fiancé and daughter and taking online classes to finish his MBA. With so much uncertainty facing the world, he's unsure what his next step will be come this summer, but one thing remains constant for Jared Samuelson: "I don't know if I'll ever be fully ready to say goodbye to basketball, but being a family man, that's the most important focus for me."
For GoGriz.com
It doesn't take long for Jared Samuelson to name his inspirations.
"It's easy," he said. "The biggest influence in my life is my daughter, Jordyn Samuelson…
"Also my fiancé, Kylie Nielsen...
"My mom, Kim Potter. My brother, Shane Samuelson. My dad, Shawn Samuelson."
The senior power forward, a lifelong Montanan and Billings native – reflecting on the Montana map he's traveled as one of the state's best basketball players over the past decade – finds it easy and important to credit various aspects of family.
Speaking last month, before his senior season and career came to an abrupt ending, he added another family to the list – his Montana teammates.
It was family that initially led him to Missoula to play in a Montana jersey, tracing the footsteps of his father, Shawn Samuelson, who played for the Grizzlies from 1992-96.
And it was the call of family that led him back to Billings after his first two seasons as a Griz. Back in Billings, he earned NAIA All-America status playing for Rocky Mountain College. In Billings, he was with his fiancé, Kylie, and also present when Jordyn, now nearing her second birthday, was born.
But eventually – after earning a degree in business management from Rocky – Samuelson decided to re-join teammates in Missoula to play his senior season with the Grizzlies, and to complete important studies to earn his master's in business administration from UM this spring.
The redshirt senior took 17 credits in the fall and is now working toward the final 15 this spring, which have all been moved to online classes due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
"The MBA program here at UM is incredible," Samuelson said. "I haven't had a professor here that I haven't absolutely enjoyed their class. I can easily say I've learned a ton. It's been incredible."
For Samuelson, it meant an intense daily classroom schedule, followed by equally intense Griz basketball practices that consumed the remainder of his days. That's not counting the evening study sessions, of course.
It hasn't been easy, and along the way there have been unanticipated setbacks – a major one being a preseason knee injury. In a September workout, Samuelson tore the meniscus in his right knee. The ensuing surgery forced him to miss the first four games of the season, but even then, fans could see, at times, that Samuelson wasn't at full strength.
"I was in the training room, strengthening it up constantly," said Samuelson, noting he spent at least an hour rehabbing his knee every day of the season. "When it's visible on-court, it's probably because of a bump, or a knee-to-knee impact and it'll flare up."
The result of constant work and endless rehab was a steady improvement. In the process, he saw his on-floor minutes multiply, and finally by the end of December, near the start of conference play, he felt his game was shaping into top-level form.
"I realized then that things were going to be OK for me, that I was getting into a rhythm and getting a better feel for how I play the game as well. It's nice to realize you're gaining strength and speed through the recovery process."
On Dec. 28, Montana's first Big Sky Conference game of the year, Samuelson shot 4-of-4 from the field, scored nine points and played double-digit minutes in a win over Northern Arizona.It all finished where it began for @JaredSamuelson. Thanks for returning to Missoula and bringing joy to Dahlberg this past season!#GrizHoops #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/VkxqyVIQD9
— Montana Griz BB (@MontanaGrizBB) March 17, 2020
"In that game I shot 100 percent from the floor, and I realized that I finally had my feet under me, that finally my legs felt strong, and that I was getting into a rhythm with my shots. That game was really a turning point for me," Samuelson reflected.
Two nights later, in Montana's 52-50 win over Sacramento State, Samuelson scored a team-high 14 points. The following game, a 60-58 road win over Southern Utah, Samuelson once again was the team leader, scoring a then-career-high 21 points.
Samuelson continued to make his mark, starting 20 of Montana's final 21 games. During league play, he averaged 10.3 points per game and shot .603 from the floor.
Though slightly undersized at the post, at 6-7, Samuelson was Montana's most consistent paint producer, sporting a strong shooting percentage. Not intimidated by larger defenders, Samuelson perfected a front-court, post-up presence that featured a smooth fade-back, mid-paint hook shot and low-wing post shot that he would bank high off the backboard.
He's extremely accurate with both shots, both of which are nearly impossible for defenders to block. He can shoot both quickly, whether taking a direct pass from a guard, or by dribbling for position with his back to his defender.
Samuelson learned the mechanics of his post-up form from another Samuelson, and another Griz great.
"My dad actually taught me how to post up and shoot at a really young age, and I've been working on the form of that shot as long as I've been playing," Samuelson said with a proud grin.
"I love to set up into the post, establish contact, and go up at the same time I'm creating separation while moving into a rhythm hook shot," he said. "A lot of times, the success of a rhythm hook shot is to release it with confidence so that it thinks it'll go in. Confidence is the factor for me."
It's only one part of his offensive arsenal that Griz fans saw throughout the season. When opposing teams would seal up the paint, Samuelson would float to the perimeter, or slide past a high-post screen to the perimeter. Whether at the top of the key, or a few feet to either side, his long-range shots were nearly as accurate as his shots down low.
Despite playing the post position, Samuelson connected on 19 3-pointers, at a .463 clip. His deep presence is where he said he had the most impact on a game against critical Big Sky opponents.
"My personal strengths as a player, given my size, are first my inside game, and then being able to stretch the floor on the perimeter from the 5 spot," Samuelson said. "When other teams focus on doubling Sayeed (Pridgett) on the inside, or when my guy's sagging off, it helps by being able to score the 3 when defenses collapse.
"Whether it's down low or on the perimeter, I take pride in shooting a high-percentage shot from inside or outside, and it's something I work hard on every single day."
Samuelson's role as a senior, both as a player and vocal leader, played a vital role in Montana's success.
"Jared's been a special addition to this Griz team this year," head coach Travis DeCuire said in March. "Just in his heart, and what Grizzly basketball means to him as a person and player, he's raised the Griz to another level. For a team that's been on a journey like us, to have someone like him in the locker room to say all the right things at the right times has been huge, and his leadership has been important to us."
After beginning his career at Montana before transferring to Rocky Mountain College, Samuelson could have ended his basketball career there – as an NAIA All-American. He could have stayed for his final season at Rocky, while working toward a graduate degree.
But, for Samuelson, there was no question that he wanted to return to where it all began, creating one of the unique stories in all of college basketball.
"I returned to this program with the mindset that I'm going to help this team, regardless of my role, and I feel that's what I've done," he said. "I'm just happy to be here to enjoy this last year here as a Griz."
Samuelson likens the growth in skill, teamwork and chemistry of the team… well, as another type of family effort.
"At the beginning of the year, we were trying to figure out who we were as a team," Samuelson said. "We had a couple of rough stretches, a couple of bad games. We had a lot of young guys and we were trying to figure out how to get everyone in sync on the floor. It affected me coming back, as well. I'm a veteran, but also a rookie at the same time after two years of absence.
"The cool thing about this team was, game by game, we just kept bringing it with everything we had, and the neat thing about that was it started to build up family chemistry with the whole team."
The season, unfortunately, got cut short. After leading the league for most of the year, Montana entered the Big Sky tournament with a realistic chance to become the first Griz team to ever win three straight tournament titles – and the first Big Sky team to do so in 40 years.We, of course, will never know how things would have turned out last month in Boise, but know this: Samuelson, among others, believed the Grizzlies had the mindset to reach their goals.
"Playing for Montana, you really do have to walk onto the court with a chip on your shoulder and know that everyone is against the Griz. That's what makes it fun. You've also got to be able to fight to win a game, regardless of how much the other team wants to knock you out."
It's a challenge Samuelson relishes.
"You know, this is a game that we all fell in love with, it's not something that we should be nervous about playing. Of course there were days and games where I was nervous, but also excited, so I'd tell myself to ignore the pressure and trust the process."
His senior season was special for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, he got to return to where it began for him – and where his dad suited up. He got to play once again in front of Griz Nation. He proved that he had what it took to play again at the Division-I level.
Sure, there are the thoughts of how it all ended so abruptly and what could have been. But also, for Samuelson, he can look back and be proud of what was accomplished, and how it was accomplished.
"The struggles our team faced early on helped us build chemistry off the court," Samuelson said. "Every single guy bought into the family."
That atmosphere, he said, started from the top.
"All of the coaches are family. They push us to our limits, but they show every game that they really care about all of us. I'm just happy I was able to be around these coaches again. They're all unique and have a lot of different background influences and have incredible basketball IQ. All of us players have a lot of respect for these coaches. I love it, and I know the whole team does."
It should be no surprise that Samuelson's most consistent focus as a student, basketball player, and person revolve around the concept of family.
"My whole family has been influential, in all honesty," Samuelson said. "I can't say it's one person more than another; they're all supportive in similar ways."
One of those influences is his father, Shawn, who was a teammate of DeCuire's in the mid-1990s. Shawn Samuelson finished his career ranked in the top six in school history for both scoring and rebounding. In 1994, he led the Griz for rebounding, blocked shots and free-throw shooting. The two-time All-Big Sky selection finished his career with more than 1,200 career points.
"I really liked watching his Griz highlights when I was a kid, and listening to his stories of him playing here," Samuelson said. "Above anything else, I'm pretty happy I got to finish out my career here like my dad did."
The elder Samuelson, who spent the season traveling the country to the majority of Montana's games, was outwardly emotional in his admiration of his son..@JaredSamuelson Proud of you my guy, the Griz Legacy is strong. pic.twitter.com/LEbeaX9Eob
— Trevbueno (@treverspoja) March 8, 2020
"I'm very proud," Shawn Samuelson said. "As a father, I'm 100 percent behind Jared and just super proud of everything he's accomplished."
The list of accomplishments is long… Being an all-conference-caliber player, despite dealing with a knee injury. Finishing his MBA degree in a year. Supporting his fiancé and daughter while being away.
"He's had a lot on his plate, and I'm really proud of everything he's done," Shawn Samuelson said.
"I came here nearly 30 years ago, and I wanted to have 'Montana' across my chest, so it's been really great to see this continue with Jared coming here. It does really mean something. Roots mean a lot. My family roots have been and will always be in Montana."
So too for Jared Samuelson.
"It's simply amazing to be a Griz. It's crazy to think that four years ago I was sitting here as a redshirt freshman. It's been unbelievable, honestly. I just take a lot of pride in being a Montana Grizzly. It means a lot to me and always will be."
With his basketball career now behind him, Samuelson has once again transitioned from one family to another. He's back in Billings with his fiancé and daughter and taking online classes to finish his MBA. With so much uncertainty facing the world, he's unsure what his next step will be come this summer, but one thing remains constant for Jared Samuelson: "I don't know if I'll ever be fully ready to say goodbye to basketball, but being a family man, that's the most important focus for me."
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