Recruiting Class Grows by Two More
Kearney, Neb. – Nebraska-Kearney head men's basketball coach Kevin Lofton announced today that D'Aundre Samuels, the 2023 Colorado Player of the Year, and Trey Deveaux, a first-team NJCAA All-American, will play for the Lopers next season. Samuels is a 6-4, 170-pound guard who powered Denver East to a 26-2 record and the 2023 Class 6A state title. A Norris High grad, Deveaux (6-5, 205 lbs.) has two years of eligibility remaining after leading Central C.C. in Columbus to a 22-11 mark and a sport in the 2023 NJCAA Division II National Tournament. "D'Aundre's biggest attribute is that when he's on the court, he makes everyone around him better," said UNK head coach Kevin Lofton. "He can do a lot of things for us and is just a winner. He's been a part of several successful teams at East." A prep teammate of current Loper Tom Connelly, Samuels averaged 21.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 4.9 steals per game as a senior. He also shot 73% from the line, 52% from the field and recorded 11 double doubles. That tally also included three triple doubles. In the state title game win over Fossil Ridge, he almost had a fourth (25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists) despite turning his ankle midway through the contest. It was the Angels 12th title, tying a state record. Subsequently, Samuels was named Colorado's Gatorade and MaxPreps Player of the Year and tabbed Colorado's Mr. Basketball.
"At one point this year, his high school team won 26 straight games and in the biggest game of the year, he scores 25 points," said Lofton. "He has a knack for stepping up and playing big in the most important games." Playing for former Loper assistant coach John Ritzdorf at CCC, Deveaux averaged 18.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game for the Raiders this past season. Shooting 74% at the line and 31% from behind the arc, the Lincoln native and small forward started all 33 games and reached 20 points 14 times. In addition to his All-American accolades, he was selected to the NJCAA All-Region 9 and Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference All-Conference squads. "We're really excited about Trey. You look where he was in high school and after two years at a junior college, he ended up being an All-American. He led his team to a successful season this year and I think he can come in and make an impact right away," said Lofton. In an injury-shortened freshman season, Deveaux was at 13.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists a game. He was part of two state tournament qualifying teams at Norris and averaged 17.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists a night as a senior. Finally, he was a two-time all-state pick for the Titans. "He can do a little bit of everything. He has the ability to shoot the three and does a good job of getting into the paint and creating space to get his shot, whether it be posting up or on a drive," said Lofton. "He can be a good defender and rebounder is just a good all-around player." Samuels and Deveaux joins Taden King (Rexburg, Idaho), Damiri Lindo (Oakland, Calif.), Clayton Moore (Mullen) and Donavan Short (Denmark, Wisc.) as Loper recruits to date.
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