Sam’s size and versatility showed up over the weekend, particularly when attacking or playing off the wing. Whether getting to the rim or operating in between, Church showed he could score the ball against different looks and rotations, finishing over contested hands. At times, he was also effective as a rebounder and created opportunities for teammates with his understanding and feel. That same versatility carried over defensively, where he showed promise guarding multiple positions and used his strength to his advantage.

Church was great as a sophomore for the Muskies, helping lead the program to a resurgent season. He averaged 10.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game on 51-52-72 shooting splits. He has good size, shoots it well off the catch, and is a good enough ball-handler and playmaker to create quality looks for himself and his teammates off the dribble.

Church was one of the players I was most looking forward to getting a live look at, and he didn’t disappoint. A long 6-4 wing who can do a little bit of everything on both ends of the floor, he displayed great body control around the rim and a fantastic second jump that he uses to control the glass on both ends of the floor. He utilizes his length well on the defensive end, getting into passing lanes or contesting shots, and he showed not only the ability to finish at the rim, but also a really nice mid-range game that he can get to off the dribble.

In all honesty, Church may be the player that I’m most looking forward to seeing. I wasn’t able to see Muscatine in person last season, but he was a big part of the resurgence of that program, averaging 10.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game on 51-52-72 shooting. With his combination of size, length, athleticism, and ability to score inside and out, he could have a field day on Saturday and really jump onto the radars of the college coaches in attendance.