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2008-09 (Sophomore): Sam is the Tigers' top returning scorer and rebounder, after averaging 7.4 points and a team-best 6.7 rebounds per game last year ... Willard was Pacific's top shot-blocker with 17, and was fourth on the team with 23 steals ... Scoring in double figures 12 times on the year, Sam had even of those in the final 10 games ... He had a career-high 19 points and seven boards against Portland on Mar. 7, hitting 7-of-9 shots from the field ... Willard tied his career-high with 14 points at San Diego on Feb. 21 ... He scored a career-high 14 points against Fresno State on Dec. 6 ... Willard had a career-high 11 rebounds at Pepperdine on Dec. 13 and tied that number at Sacramento State on Dec. 30 ... He had his first career double-double against UC San Diego on Nov. 19, with 12 points and 10 rebounds ... He led Pacific with 7.7 rebounds per game in the Tigers' three-game fall trip to Canada ... Willard's best effort was a nine-point, 10 rebound performance against University of Vancouver Island on Aug. 30. 2007-08 (Freshman): Sam launched his career at Pacific with promise for future seasons after making 61.1 percent of his shots with 32 points on the season ... From the free throw line, Willard had one of the highest percentages on the team, making 75.0 percent of his free throws ... He averaged 1.3 points and 1.3 rebounds per game for the Tigers, with 30 rebounds at the end of the season ... Sam's best performance of the season came against Pepperdine on Dec. 8, when he scored 13 points in his longest outing of the season after 22 minutes of play. High School: Willard came to Stockton from T. F. Riggs High School in Pierre, S.D. ... He was an "AA" all-state first team selection his senior year, after averaging 15.5 points and 11.0 rebounds per game ... Sam was also the McDonald's All-American nominee from South Dakota after his senior year in a addition to being a finalist for South Dakota's "Mr. Basketball" award ... He led the Governors to a fifth place finish in the state tournament in 2006-07 ... As a junior, Sam led his team to a 20-4 overall record and to a second place finish in the state tournament ... During the 2005-06 season Willard recorded 14.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game, earning First Team All-Eastern South Dakota Conference and second team all-state honors ... Willard finished his career first on the all-time rebounding list at T. J. Riggs HS ... Sam earned Academic All-State honors in each of his final two years of high school. Personal: Samuel Steven Willard was born in Elyria, Ohio ... He is the son of Steve and Marla Willard ... Sam is an exploratory major in his second year at Pacific ... When not playing basketball, he enjoys golf. Coach Thomason on Willard: "Sam is really coming into his own. He is really active; he was our leading rebounder in Canada with 23 rebounds. He needs to play with a little more poise. We expect him to compete for the starting center position. Sam's intelligence and attitude make him a great team player." |
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