As cooler temperatures start to make their way and the 50-yard touchdown becomes a half-court shot, the LHS basketball team has outstanding athletes who hold themselves accountable on and off the court.
Two key athletes who have seemed to be the glue to the team are Sam Ericsson and Sam DeGroot or maybe you know them as “Sam Squared.” Over the seasons, these two players have worked hand in hand. However, high school is not just it for them, they will continue to be the glue next year at Augustana University. The dynamic duo will be roommates as they continue their basketball journey.
On the court, they seem to complement each other’s game almost perfectly, knowing what shot each other likes and really understanding each other’s individual game. We get to see them on Tuesday and Thursday nights, sometimes even Friday. We know their game pretty well, but let’s dive deeper into both Sams.
Questions
- Do you think high school training has allowed you to play at the college level? If so, how?
- Who got you to where you are today — coach, parent, etc.?
- Would you say basketball is everything to you, or just a key part of your life?
- How come you’ve pushed yourself so hard to be where you are?
- Are you going to room with Sam next year?
- Would you say you complement each other well when playing?
- Are you surprised you and Sam both committed to the same college?
- If you had to define your basketball game in one word, what would it be and why?
Sam Ericsson credits his training for preparing him to compete at the college level. It has taught him how to focus on winning games rather than his own individual success. Much of Ericsson’s journey started far earlier than high school.
When asked who got him to where he is today, he responded, “My parents.” Traveling to tournaments, paying for teams and workouts and supporting him along the way were Ericsson’s reasons for why they got him to where he is today. While his coaches helped him develop his discipline, Ericsson believes his own work ethic with his training ultimately shaped his success.
Basketball is the biggest part of his life by choice, he said. He’s driven by his potential to be better every day and fueled by the motivation to prove people wrong when they doubt him.
Next year, Sam plans to room with Sam DeGroot. He said their chemistry on the court is one of their biggest strengths.
“We know what each other are going to do every time we play,” he said. “We always have each other’s backs,” said Ericsson.
The pair talked about wanting to play at the same college, and when comparing similar offers, they decided to keep the dynamic rolling. When asked to describe his game in one word, Sam chose “crafty,” a reflection of his creativity and control within the game of basketball.
Sam DeGroot credits his high school coaches for his success, they have pushed him to be better not only in season but also in off season, by enhancing his training. “Do you think high school training has allowed you to play at the college level?” DeGroot did not hesitate to agree. He credits his success to his father, not just in the game of basketball, but in life too.
DeGroot clearly loves to compete and loves to win, but he recongnizes that basketball isn’t everything to him.
“I’d say [basketball] is just a key part. I like doing other stuff too,” said DeGroot.
DeGroot’s dream of playing college basketball did not just come around the corner; he worked hard to make it happen, and this hard work definitely was not unrecognized during DeGroot’s junior season. DeGroot is confident in their chemistry on the court especially because he and Sam get each other open easily and really understand what shots each other likes in certain positions, which helps them play well together.
DeGroot was not surprised when the “dynamic duo” committed to the same college. “I think we both knew Augie would be a good fit for both of us,” said DeGroot. His playing style is a little different from most big men in the league; DeGroot’s one word to describe his basketball game is fun.
