Miami Hurricanes forward Sam Waardenburg looking forward to redemption season
PINECREST, Fla. – There was nothing but pain for Miami Hurricanes forward Sam Waardenburg last season. He missed the entire campaign due to a left foot injury he sustained in October during preseason practice. It wasn’t even during a game. The agony from the misfortune lingers in the mind and won’t dissipate until there’s an opportunity to get back on the court and prove the doubters wrong. For it is often the case when an athlete sustain’s a long-term injury, they are labelled as injury prone. Waardenburg has the will and the fight to squash the label.
In the 2019-20 season, Sam Waardenburg led the team in blocked shots and rebounding. The 6-foot-10 Auckland, New Zealand native played in 30 games earning 24 starts where he averaged 28.3 minutes per game. Although scoring isn’t the main reason for his game time, he does shoot the ball rather efficiently.
The sixth-year senior isn’t afraid to shoot from distance. In the 2019-20 campaign, he averaged a 25.0 three-point percentage and has a 41.2 field goal percentage. Those are relatively decent numbers from someone whose main skill is on the defensive end of the floor. Along with his blocking prowess, Waardenburg had the second-most steals on the team totaling to 23. He also distributed the ball to the tune of 31 assists.
There’s no doubt that Sam Waardenburg is a talented basketball player who can be relied on to deny the opposition and who can also score from distance if needed. The issue is whether he can have an injury free season in his final year. The youngster has a love for basketball given his budding pedigree. Internationally, he represented New Zealand in the FIBA 3-on-3 U18 World Championship in Kazakhstan. Additionally, he won the silver medal for the U17 team at the FIBA Oceania Championships.
There’s a winning mentality that is clearly apparent within Sam Waardenburg. He’s a proven fighter who enjoys proving the doubters wrong. the Hurricanes’ fanbase hopes that will be the case this season because they do need him. They need his rebounding, his shot blocking, his ability to stretch the floor as a big man who’s a perimeter threat, and his desire to win. After all, that is the main goal for the Hurricanes. If the team does well it would be in part thanks to Waardenburg and, in return, he will benefit from the team’s success should he decide to enter the pros. It’s a redemption season for Sam Waardenburg and he’s ready to conquer.
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