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Home > Bison Media Zone > Sam Griesel had no intention of playing at another school until recently
Podcast: Bison Media Zone
Episode:

Sam Griesel had no intention of playing at another school until recently
Category: Sports & Recreation
Duration: 00:00:00
Publish Date: 2022-03-21 17:28:20
Description: FARGO Sam Griesel said playing his final year of basketball at a college other than North Dakota State was not a thought until his name became a hot commodity in the NCAA transfer portal. The plan was to play his four years with the Bison and give professional basketball a shot, most likely in Germany.

That changed after the senior 6-foot-6 guard saw the response from a variety of Division I programs.



“To get a call from Virginia, Clemson, ACC schools and names associated with those schools, it’s something I wasn’t used to,” Griesel said. “It was a cool experience. The first five hours were a little overwhelming, the phone wasn’t stopping. It can be overwhelming and draining but at the end of the day a lot of hard work goes into it and it’s a blessing to hear from other schools.”



Griesel entered his name into the portal on March 15. He put a quick end to a new-found search by committing to the University of Nebraska on Sunday, located in his hometown of Lincoln, Neb.



Griesel was a four-year starter for the Bison and made it known in February he was leaving with his senior class.



“I want to make it clear, there is absolutely nothing that North Dakota State did or anything that caused me to leave,” he said. “I think the world of that coaching staff … the community, the people up there and everyone in that organization and that administration, they mean the world to me. Awesome, awesome people. It had nothing to do with that side of things.”



At the time, a dual citizen of Germany and the United States, Griesel appeared set on playing professionally in Europe. He played for the U20 German national team in the 2019 World Cup.



“I was fully planning on going overseas,” Griesel said. “I was still having conversations with agents and trying to figure out the best move for me. Until yesterday, professional basketball, especially in Germany, was still a big opportunity and I had good chances to still do that.”



Griesel is one of five Bison who entered the portal and the only one to make known his destination. Senior guard Tyree Eady could use a sixth year of college with a year of eligibility because of the COVID-19 pandemic.



Griesel said he’s not sure if Eady is going to play or move on with life. Guards Maleeck Harden-Hayes and Jarius Cook have two years of eligibility. Guard Grayson Haman was a walkon who didn’t see much of the court.



Griesel said he’s not a big fan of the portal “but it’s college basketball and there are opportunities out there.” At Nebraska, he’ll join a program that has been struggling going 10-22 last season.



“Part of my goal is to change the narrative around here,” he said. “Even though I’ll be there 10 months, I think I can have a big impact with the community and this university.”



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