At the age of eight years old, Sam was invited to come along and participate in a game of basketball.  He was a tall kid with thick glasses and not much coordination. What he lacked in skill, he made up for in hustle.  Initially, he was never the first one picked to play and often found himself on the sideline watching and wanting to play.  The combination of watching his mother work so hard to provide for him and people telling him that he wasn’t good enough motivated him to prove them wrong.

Through hard work, Sam eventually made his first official basketball team.  He was the starting center for All Saints Catholic School in Harlem, New York City.  While developing as a basketball player, Sam was also receiving a lot of pressure from his mother to maintain a high academic standard.  Because of this, Sam was accepted at Cardinal Hayes High School in The Bronx, a prestigious private school for boys. With the dedication of his freshman coach, John Flame, Sam cemented himself as a top freshman player in the Catholic league.  Going into his second year of high school, Sam made the varsity team and quickly established himself as a defensive stopper.  

The coach of the team, Tom Murray Sr., served as a mentor, a father figure, and coach to Sam.  Coach Murray instilled in Sam the drive and motivation to want more out of himself. This was never more evident than when Sam’s mother passed away going into his senior year of high school when he really needed support both on and off the court.  Coach Murray was a source of hope during these dark times. He wouldn’t let Sam give up on life, reminding him of his mother’s expectations as an athlete and as a student. 

In 1985, Sam, after living by himself for his last year of high school, continued to excel on the court and in the classroom.  On the court, Sam was named by the Daily News sports writers as first team all-city, meaning he was one of the top five players in the senior class of New York City.  He was also named by Street and Smith magazine as an All American honorable mention. At the same time in the classroom, Sam was named scholar athlete of the year in the city.   

After his senior season, Sam decided to sign and play his collegiate career at St. Bonaventure University, Olean, New York.  At the university, Sam was named as the “Defensive Player of the Year” in three of the four years and was the “Most Improved Player” after his second season.  He also went on to earn his Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the university. After earning his degree at the university, Sam attended basketball tryouts for the CBA (Continental Basketball League) which was the development league for the NBA at the time.  Sam made the team, but received a better offer from a European team, which started Sam’s great European adventure.

During the course of his professional career in Europe, Sam played in England, Ireland, Iceland, France, and Germany.  Alongside playing professional basketball, Sam was also active in coaching youth teams and in basketball camps.  

From 1993 – 1998 Sam was Player/Head Coach at Reebok Hoop Camps in Germany.

In 1998 he established “Slammers” Basketball Organization with a partner. The organization consisted of three pillars: basketball camps, player agency, and basketball uniforms.  The basketball camps consisted of camps for kids and young adults (ages 6 to 21), Basketball Tour Organizer in the USA, and College / Professional Basketball Camps. The Players Agency (male and female) was responsible for placing 70 professional players that were under contract with the organization throughout Europe.  The services provided by the agency included player contract negotiations, player insurance, and accounting for the players. The organization also designed and produced basketball uniforms for clubs and private teams. 

In 2005 Sam ends cooperation with the company and retires as a Professional Basketball Player. 

During the years 2007 to 2013 Sam volunteers as a Basketball Consultant in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, helping small communities develop basketball programs, scouting young basketball talent introducing them to local basketball clubs,  prep-schools and universities in the United States.  

In 2013 Sam starts coaching the Men’s team at Basketball Club, Blue Stars in Diemen/Amsterdam also on a voluntary basis since he did not have a work permit in The Netherlands. 

In 2015 Sam decides to start his own Basketball Company in Amsterdam, Dynasty Sports B.V. organizing Basketball Camp & Clinics during the school holidays while he continues offering paid coaching services at Basketball Club Blue Stars and connected Basketballscool for younger children. 

End of Basketball season 2018, Sam decided to stop coaching at Blue Stars and held his final Basketball Camp in Spring 2019 under the name Dynasty Sports.

In 2019 Sam takes time off from coaching focusing on rebuilding Dynasty Sports and at the same time he starts exploring the need and interest amongst (young) players in Amsterdam to open up a new Basketball Club. 

Sam renames Dynasty Sports B.V. to DBX – Dynasty Basketball Experience and opens up his own International Basketball Club, DBX Wolves active as per February 2020. 

Sam is a success-driven and result-orientated Basketball coach with the goal building professional players and championships teams with character, integrity and sportsmanship. Sam is consistently motivating and inspiring players to bring the best to every practice and every game with a positive attitude.