INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI basketball program has announced the signing of Rhode Island-transfer Abdou Samb to an athletics aid agreement to join the program, beginning with the 2023-2024 season. Samb, a 6-foot-8 forward, played one season at Rhode Island after redshirting 2021-22 season. 

Samb appeared in 31 games this past season, making 17 starts for head coach Archie Miller's squad. He averaged 3.6 points and 2.7 rebounds per game while shooting 46.3 percent from the floor and 75 percent from the foul line. He finished fourth on the squad with 14 blocked shots and was seventh on the team at 17.6 minutes per game. He scored a season-high 14 points on two different occasions, including a 14-point, 7-rebound effort in his second career game against Texas State on Nov. 12. He had 14 points (6-7 FG, 2-2 FT) against Providence on Dec. 3 and turned in seven points and a season-high 10 rebounds against UMass Lowell on Dec. 13. 

Samb starred with the DC Premier grassroots program and played high school at Frederick Douglass (Md.) High School. He was an All-State performer at Douglass and ranked among the top prep players in Maryland throughout his high school career. 

"We really like what Abdou will bring to our program. He's super long and athletic, but skilled for his size," head coach Matt Crenshaw said. "He's going to provide us with a defensive presence with his ability to protect the rim, but he's also a guy that can help us get out in transition and change ends of the floor quickly.  

"He can face up offensively and also play with his back to the basket. He played a lot of minutes and started a lot of games last year, so that experience will be really important to the makeup of our team."

Samb is the Jaguars' second commitment in just over a week, joining Buffalo-transfer Kidtrell Blocker. The duo joins a strong returning nucleus as IUPUI is expected to return all-league guard Jlynn Counter (14.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.3 apg) and #HLMBB All-Freshman Team honorees Vincent Brady II (10.9 ppg, 58 3's) and DJ Jackson (9.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg). The Jags are expecting a lift from Bryce Monroe (12.0 ppg, 3.8 apg in 4 games), who missed virtually all of last season due to injury. Other key returners will include Daylan Hamilton (6.4 ppg), John Egbuta (6.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg), Armon Jarrard (5.3 ppg, 19 3's), Amhad Jarrard (4.5 ppg) and Cooper Dewitt (1.2 ppg).