By Rick HowlettUniversity of Louisville basketball standout Samardo Samuels won't return to the team for his junior season.Samuels announced last month he would explore his options before deciding whether to come back, but now says he will hire an agent and remain in the NBA draft. Coach Rick Pitino says he told Samuels that making the leap to the NBA will be a challenge, but the native of Jamaica is leaving for the right reasons."He said 'coach, you've got to understand...my father sometimes drives a taxi, it's not like driving a taxi in New York...it's very dangerous in Jamaica, and my mother....they've sacrificed for me, and if I have to make a decision it's not based on the fact on i don't want to come back, it's based on i want to help my family,'" Pitino said WednesdayPitino says he's been trying to arrange some workouts for Samuels with pro teams ahead of the draft. (Photo of Samardo Samuels courtesy of University of Louisville)
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.