The Canterbury Rams Announce the Return of Sam Smith

Although the Sal’s NBL season has been delayed and we are all focused on the lockdown, we are excited to announce some talented Rams players, all whom have come through the Mainland Eagles Academy. The second is a familiar face from last season, Sam Smith!

After spending his high school years in Tauranga, Sam moved to Christchurch to train in the hopes of receiving a scholarship to play in the United States. His excellent preparation saw him play for Lincoln University, Canterbury U19 Representative Men’s team and also be a part of the Canterbury Rams squad. In 2014 he begun his US college career at Brown Mackie College, before moving on to Texas Wesleyan University to finish his degree. On return, Sam joined the Canterbury Rams last season and was a great addition to the squad.

Sam has also been a part of the Mainland Eagles Academy since its establishment in 2014, and he’s a great example of why the Academy was set up. His dedication and work ethic has provided him with opportunities to further his playing career but also utilise his degree in building an off-court career.

Head coach Mick Downer commented on Sam saying “Sam is what every team needs to be successful, he is a hard-working, no nonsense of sort of guy. He plays the game the right way and is extremely smart. We love that he takes on the role of guarding the best opposition perimeter player while at the other end of the floor makes good decisions and is a constant threat from the 3pt line. Sam has had a very productive off-season and we are looking forward to him show casing his skills this season.”

The Rams organisation is thrilled to welcome Sam back in to the program this season!