Sampson Onuoha ’25 has been an integral part of the Belmont Hill varsity football, basketball, and track and field teams. Sampson grew up in East London, England. When he was younger, he enjoyed playing soccer before making the change to basketball. As a basketball player, he played for his local club, school, and eventually the U16 national team. At this level of competition, he faced a variety of other countries’ youth basketball teams from Bulgaria, Sweden, and Portugal to Bosnia. At 15 years old, he convinced his parents to allow him to move over to the USA. Initially, this change was driven by his desire to play collegiate basketball; however, upon arriving at Belmont Hill he was asked to give football a try.
During his sophomore season, he spent significant time on the field learning the ins and outs of the intricate sport that is football, receiving support from fellow defensive end Tommy Rupley ’25 and Coach LaLiberte. While the Belmont Hill 2022 varsity season was nothing to write home about, he developed a lot as a player before spending much of the following summer lifting and developing his football skills. The next season (2023), Belmont Hill won the ISL championship with a record of 7-1. This season was a breakout season for Sampson, as he took a major leap in his skills and was vital in the team’s success, with several huge plays in close games. A strong, driven team bent on securing the championship was a great environment for Sampson to implement what he had been practicing throughout the previous summer and season.
Sampson’s skills were noticed in the offseason, where he received recognition from a multitude of college football coaches, eventually receiving 16 Division One offers, from FBS and FCS conference schools. He was also ranked a three-star prospect and the number two prospect in Massachusetts. Sampson also had an impressive track and field season last year, ranking second in the ISL top 10 track and field performance list for the 12 lb shot put, and third overall for the 1.6 kg discus. He even went to Nike Track Nationals in Oregon over the summer, with several of his Belmont Hill teammates joining him. Sampson is currently committed to play football at Duke University, a school where he originally dreamed of playing basketball.
This season, Sampson has again been a key player in the success of the football team, now a two-way player on the offensive and defensive lines. Although slightly banged up throughout the season, he has served as a leader on the team, notably mentoring the younger players at his position in practice and in games when he is not on the field. With so little football experience, the sky will be the limit for Sampson in his collegiate career, and many from the Belmont Hill community will be excited to see him play and develop in college.
