Samuels attended Mount Tabor High School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he became the National High School record holder for 100 meters in 10.08 seconds at the Russell Blunt East Coast Invitational, matching the American Junior Record set by 2004 Olympic gold medalist Justin Gatlin in 2001. He also ran a 200-meter dash time of 20.32, which was the sixth-fastest ever by a U.S. prep athlete. Samuels was named to "USA Today's" All-USA track team in 2005. He was also "Track and Field News" "High School Athlete of the Year" in 2005.