Sam Dekker, the versatile forward who helped the Badgers reach the Final Four, has announced his move to the University of South Carolina, where he will serve as an assistant coach under head coach Lamont Paris.
Dekker’s basketball résumé reads like a global journey: selected 17th overall in the 2015 NBA Draft, he later suited up for the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards and a handful of G‑League squads before spending the past several seasons abroad, honing his craft in leagues from Turkey to Israel.
After years of traveling across continents, the 28‑year‑old decided it was time to give back to the college game, citing a desire to shape the next generation of talent and to be closer to the sport’s roots.
A Coach Who Knows the System
Paris, who spent four years as an assistant at Wisconsin while Dekker was a student‑athlete, first crossed paths in Madison and later reunited when Paris took the helm at Chattanooga before accepting the South Carolina position in 2022. Their shared history gives the new staff a built‑in chemistry that could accelerate player development.
In a recent statement, Dekker expressed enthusiasm about returning to the SEC, saying he is eager to help his players succeed on the hardwood and in the classroom, and to chase that coveted March Madness run.
The move underscores a growing trend of former NBA players transitioning into coaching roles, bringing professional experience and a fresh perspective to college programs seeking an edge.