Sam Longwell '15
Year: Class of 2023
Team: Men's Basketball
Sam Longwell anchored an amazing run of WPI Men’s Basketball, leading the Engineers to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
During his career, in which he started 93 games, WPI went 89-21, winning two NEWMAC regular season titles, and lifting the conference championship trophy in 2013.
"Sam played with great perspective and championship poise," says Hall of Fame head men's basketball coach Chris Bartley. "He balanced his competitive drive with being a leader and teammate who saw the big picture and made everyone comfortable. His Hall of Fame statistics are impressive, but his legacy as a WPI men's basketball student-athlete is more about how he brought people together as a leader, teammate, and friend."
The Engineers won the 2012 ECAC New England championship during his rookie season, and went to the NCAA Tournament in 2013, when they were ranked as high as #2 in the country. That team began the year 22-0 and finished with 26 wins, including a victory in their opening game of the Big Dance. The Engineers returned to the postseason in 2014 and in 2015, when D3hoops.com had them as high as #3 in the country.
Individually, Sam made his mark with first team All-NEWMAC and D3hoops.com All-Northeast Region selections in 2014 and 2015. He finished his career fourth all-time in scoring, with 1,422 points, as well as 577 career rebounds and 239 career assists.
During his time at WPI, Sam also served as a member of Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Central Mass & Metrowest.
"Sam is the type of player you dream about having on your roster," said current Johns Hopkins head Men's Basketball Coach Ryan Cain, who coached him as Bartley's assistant. "He did everything as a player and leader that needs to be done to have a consistent high level of individual and team success over a four-year career. His work ethic allowed him to develop into one of the best players to ever play at WPI. In addition to his talent, he impacted the game in so many ways with his leadership, defense, and ability to rebound."
He stayed in the game of basketball as a high school assistant coach at his alma mater, Acton-Boxborough Regional, and also played semi-professionally for Worcester 78s of the ABA.
An Acton native, Sam currently lives in Newton; he is married to former WPI Women's Soccer standout Jane Bingel '17 of the Women's Soccer program. He is an account executive in B2B Technology Sales at Workday.
