Posted: Aug 08, 2012
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Tech men’s basketball coach
Steve Payne has added a new name to the 2012-13 Golden Eagle
roster, with the addition of Jeremiah Samarrippas, a transfer from
Southern Methodist University. Samarrippas has been granted
approval by the NCAA to play to this season for the Golden
Eagles.
“We’re very excited to have him,” Payne
said. “It's a great thing for him to be eligible for us this
season. He’s had success for two years down at SMU and we are
excited to see what he can do for us. His style of play fits well
with us and he will bring great intensity and toughness to the
team. He also has great passing ability and we are looking forward
to his impact for this season”
Highly recruited out of high school by multiple Division I
colleges and Universities including Central Florida, Tulane,
Mississippi State and American, Samarrippas said that the coaching
staff at TTU was a key reason in his decision to come to
Cookeville.
“I really like the coaching staff here. Coach Payne and
coach (Brian) Kloman really made me feel like I could make an
immediate impact,” he said. “I just felt more was
wanted here than anywhere else.
“I’m also interested in the style of play at
Tech,” Samarrippas continued. “I’m excited to get
back into the up-tempo offense, where you push the ball and have
quick transition.”
A native of Bartow, Fla., Samarrippas made an immediate impact
at SMU as a true freshman, starting 30 games and making an
appearance in all 35. He averaged 7.4 points and 3.4 assists per
game, shooting 42.1 percent from the floor and 38.5 percent from
downtown en route to a 20-win season for the Mustangs.
He led the team in assists 15 times his freshman season and in
steals 16 times, and finished the year ranked first on the roster
in assists and steals. He also held the No. 3 spot in scoring and
field-goal percentage from the floor and from three-point
range.
In his first career post-season tournament, Samarrippas had a
career-high 16 points against Jacksonville in the College
Insider’s Tournament in mid-March, 2011.
He continued his trend of being an impact performer during his
sophomore year; last season at SMU, Samarrippas started all 31
games for the Mustangs, averaging 6.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and 4.2
assists per game. He scored in double-figures in 13 contests and
logged five or more assists in 13 contests.
A proven playmaker, Samarrippas led the team in assists for
the second consecutive year with 130 total, ranked third in steals
with 32 and fourth in scoring. He logged the first double-double
with points and assists for SMU (12-11 on January 25 at Tulane)
since 2010.
For the season, he shot 32.4 percent from behind the arc and
finished the year ranked fifth in Conference USA in assists and
assist-to-turnover ratio. Samarrippas hit a buzzer-beater on
January 7, 2012 -- a 20-foot step-back jumper from the top of the
key as time expired to give SMU a 57-55 win at Tulsa.
His extensive experience on a DI court is something that
Samarrippas believes will be an asset to his new team.
“Even though I’m transferring in, I’m a
veteran,” he explained. “I’ve been a two-year
starter at a Division I school, and I think I can be a leader and a
role model for this team.
“I love the team already. The guys are great and really
high in character. I’m clicking with the guys already, and
I’m looking forward to getting settled in
Cookeville.”