Sami Uraz Is Making His Presence Felt at Queen's

By Ryan O'Connor

Sami Uraz didn't take long to make his presence felt in the OUA. The Toronto, ON native and Queen's (ON) freshman opened his university career with a pair of impressive scoring performances, putting up 28 points against Concordia and following it with 22 against McGill. Through the first nine games of his rookie season, Uraz has established himself as one of the Gaels' more intriguing young players, showcasing an offensive game that extends well beyond simply putting the ball in the basket.

Averaging 15.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game, Uraz has quickly become an important part of Queen's rotation. His ability to score at multiple levels, contribute on the glass and make an impact away from the ball has made him a versatile option for the Gaels.

One of the most noticeable aspects of Uraz's game is his ability to make an impact without the basketball. He does a great job of finding openings in opposing defences, moving into space and positioning himself to create scoring opportunities without needing to be a primary ball-handler. He is also active on the offensive glass, where his instincts have stood out. Through nine games, he has collected 17 offensive rebounds, giving the Gaels valuable second-chance opportunities. Defensively, he shows a similar level of awareness, regularly boxing out, providing help defence and staying engaged away from the play.

It's an aspect of his game that Uraz has made a conscious effort to develop. The Maple Minute caught up with the freshman following Queen's decisive win against Lakehead on November 7, where he spoke about the importance of being able to contribute without having the ball in his hands.

“100%. It's a bit of both to be honest, being a student of the game, being super efficient, not needing the ball to score, and actually being able to contribute, so that's definitely something I've been working on,” Uraz said.

While his off-ball contributions are a significant part of his game, Uraz has also shown plenty of promise as an individual scorer. He has demonstrated the ability to knock down shots from beyond the arc, create opportunities in the mid-range and finish around the basket. He is comfortable attacking the rim through contact and has shown that he can create his own shot. His performance against Carleton offered a good example of that versatility, with creative finishes and an ability to draw contact around the basket.

Through nine games, Uraz is shooting 48.9 per cent from the field and 34 per cent from 3-point range. While he has gone 6-for-22 from beyond the arc over his last four appearances, his overall shooting numbers provide an encouraging starting point for a first-year player. Continuing to find consistency from the perimeter will be key moving forward.

His transition to the university level has also been helped by the competition he faced before arriving in Kingston. Uraz played at Crestwood Prep (ON), where he competed against high-level talent in the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association (OSBA). He believes that experience helped prepare him for the jump to the OUA.

“Playing in the OSBA, playing against the best competition has prepared me to play at this level,” Uraz said. “The competitiveness is the same thing too, it prepared me well.”

There are, of course, areas where Uraz can continue to improve as he adjusts to the university game. Ball security and decision-making stand out in particular. Through nine games, he has recorded 24 turnovers, including five in Queen's matchup against Lakehead. As he becomes more comfortable with the pace of the OUA, taking better care of the basketball will be an important part of his progression.

Beyond his individual production, Uraz has his sights set on helping Queen's reach the national stage once again. When asked about his personal goals for the season, he emphasized his desire to contribute to the team's success.

“A personal goal I've set for the season is probably just to do the best I can, you know, contribute to the team and make nationals.”

Through the opening stretch of his freshman season, Uraz has already put himself in the early conversations for OUA All-Rookie Team honours. But his ceiling extends beyond rookie recognition. If he continues producing at this level while refining other areas of his game, Uraz could establish himself as an OUA All-Star.