This class of 2025 that head coach Bill Self has rung in is one that can push the Jayhawks back to the highest pedestal collegiate basketball has to offer. After all, this is a class filled with the No.1 player in the nation, Darryn Peterson (SG). Peterson is one of five total recruits for this class, along with Kohl Rosario (SG), Samis Calderon (SF), Corbin Allen (SG), and Paul Mbiya (C).
Today we wanted to look at Samis Calderon as we believe he can make a big impact.
Calderon played for the Cold Hears of the Overtime Elite league.
Last season Calderon averaged 8.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 blocked shots per game, including 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.3 blocked shots in the 2025 playoffs, where the Cold Hearts made it to the semi-finals. Calderon posted two 20-point games in the 2025 playoffs 27 points in the first game of the playoffs.
A good thing to mark is Calderon's ability to perform when it matters most. The OTE has produced a number of NBA talents, most notably the Thompson brothers, Amen and Ausar, who have both put OTE on the map, further exuding how impressive it is for Calderon to succeed at this level.
In late 2024, 247Sports' director of scouting Adam Finkelstein analyzed Calderon.
"Calderon is a high-level athlete with exceptional length, huge hands, and a frame that is both strong and defined. He’s measured at 6-foot-8 with shoes on with a massive 7-foot-3 wingspan and 10-inch hands. His athletic testing numbers are equally impressive with a 38-inch vertical and the fasted full court sprint time in the entire OTE program. His physical tools are just as impressive within the flow of the game as he has easy bounce, covers the court, and has all the tools necessary to thrive on the defensive end of the floor.
"Positional versatility should be another big asset for Calderon. He’s definitely going to be capable of defending multiple positions and thus be very switchable. Theoretically, he should also be able to thrive on that end of the floor regardless of tempo, whether that be the half-court or more aggressive run-and-jump type systems.
"Offensively, he’s undoubtedly going to be at his best in an up-tempo style where he can rely on his athleticism to get easy points in the open floor. He’s not much of a ball-handler or creator at this point, and while he shows some shooting potential with a clean and high release, his shooting percentages have proven consistently unreliable to date, with some occasionally bad misses."
Calderon will be challenged for minutes as the small forward position is one that is flexible in the modern game. Calderon stands at 6-8, helping him as a versatile option for this ever-changing lineup that Self is bound to employ, especially earlier into the season.
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