Sam Froling
Froling in 2018
No. 13 – Taranaki Airs
PositionCenter / power forward
LeagueNZNBL
Personal information
Born (2000-02-10) 10 February 2000 (age 24)
Townsville, Australia
Listed height213 cm (7 ft 0 in)
Listed weight109 kg (240 lb)
Career information
CollegeCreighton (2018–2019)
NBA draft2020: undrafted
Playing career2019–present
Career history
2019Dandenong Rangers
2019–presentIllawarra Hawks
2023Levanga Hokkaido
2024–presentTaranaki Airs
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Australia
FIBA Asia Cup
Gold medal – first place 2022 Jakarta

Samson James Froling (born 10 February 2000)[1] is an Australian professional basketball player for the Taranaki Airs of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He is also contracted with the Illawarra Hawks of the National Basketball League (NBL). He played college basketball for the Creighton Bluejays for one season before leaving to play professionally in Australia.

College career

In January 2018, Froling committed to play college basketball for the Creighton Bluejays after receiving offers from programs including Wichita State, Arizona and Maryland.[2] In 30 games for Creighton during the 2018–19 season, Froling averaged 3.6 points and 1.9 rebounds in 8.9 minutes a game.[3] On 1 April 2019, Froling announced he would be leaving Creighton to pursue professional opportunities in Australia.[4]

Professional career

On the same day as announcing he had left Creighton, Froling was listed on the roster for the Dandenong Rangers of the Australian semi-professional league NBL1.[4] In 16 games for the Rangers during the league's inaugural 2019 season, Froling averaged 16.9 points and 7.6 rebounds a game.[5]

On 6 May 2019, Froling signed a three-year deal with the Illawarra Hawks of the NBL.[6] His remaining contract with Illawarra was voided when the club was liquidated on 18 May 2020.[7]

On 22 July 2020, Froling re-signed with the Hawks on a new two-year deal.[8] He re-signed to a new three-year deal on 25 February 2022.[9]

On 22 February 2023, Froling signed with the Levanga Hokkaido of the Japanese B.League.[10]

With the Hawks in the 2023–24 NBL season, Froling won the NBL Next Generation Award.[11][12]

Froling is set to join the Taranaki Airs of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL) for the 2024 season.[13]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018–19 Creighton 30 0 9.2 .576 .250 .385 1.9 .5 .1 .4 3.6

Personal life

Froling was born in Townsville, Queensland, to Shane and Jenny Froling as the youngest of four siblings. His father played in the NBL for twenty years, while his mother was a four-time champion in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL).[14] His sisters, Alicia and Keely, have played together in the WNBL, while his brother, Harry Froling, plays in the NBL for the Brisbane Bullets.[15]

References

  1. ^ "Samson James FROLING". FIBA. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  2. ^ Nyatawa, Jon (15 January 2018). "Recruiting: Australian forward Sam Froling announces commitment to Creighton for 2018". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  3. ^ "Samson Froling Bio". Creighton University Athletics. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  4. ^ a b Nyatawa, Jon (1 April 2019). "Samson Froling leaves Creighton to pursue professional career in Australia". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  5. ^ "Samson Froling Stats". NBL1. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  6. ^ "Sam Froling Signs With Illawarra Hawks". NBL1. 6 May 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  7. ^ Hope, Shayne (18 May 2020). "NBL's Hawks liquidated amid huge debt". Illawarra Mercury. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  8. ^ "Froling Returns to the Hawks". nbl.com.au. 22 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  9. ^ "Sam Froling Signs New Three Year Deal With Illawarra". nbl.com.au. 25 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  10. ^ "#13 サムソン・フローリング選手 新規入団のお知らせ" (in Japanese). Levanga Hokkaido. 22 February 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  11. ^ "A rising star of Aussie hoops". twitter.com/NBL. 19 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  12. ^ Woods, Dan (24 February 2024). "Tale of the Tape - Froling's Next Generation season". NBL.com.au. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  13. ^ "The Taranaki Steelformers Airs have signed Australian forward Sam Froling". facebook.com/NZNBL. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  14. ^ "U17 Worlds a family affair for Australian Sam Froling". FIBA. 4 May 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  15. ^ "Sam Froling Signs in Illawarra". NBL. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2019.

External links

NBL Most Improved Player Award
NBL Next Generation Award
Categories