Saul's uncle said to him and to his servant, Where went you? He said, To seek the donkeys; and when we saw that they were not found, we came to Samuel.
The manner in which the name of Samuel is mentioned so casually in this passage presupposes that the identity of this great leader was well known in Saul's family.  Therefore what is often alleged regarding Saul's not ever having heard of him is in error.  The thing, of which Saul was ignorant as they approached Ramah was the fact of Samuel's being in the city on that particular day.