“I’m just ready to be a pro,” said Grambling State’s junior guard Quincy Roberts as he will forgo his senior season and declare for the 2012 NBA draft.
“When you work hard, dedicate, and put your all into what you do, it’s only right that you expect success. I am fortunate enough to seize the opportunity and I will be entering the NBA draft representing Grambling State University.”
Roberts will be leaving school Thursday to prepare for the NBA combine. He is unsure whether or not he will hire an agent, so as of now he is still eligible to return for his final season. However, he has until May 8 to withdraw to stay eligible.
Last spring, the legitimately 6-foot-5 guard out of Harrisburg Pa., transferred from St.John in the Big East to Grambling State and in his first season, he has been impressive.
Before Roberts, Grambling basketball was overshadowed by the likes of the G-Men football team and the World Famed Tiger Marching Band, but since his arrival, and in spite of the team record (4-24), Roberts’ play has captivated an audience who wasn’t accustomed of seeing such a talent in the Hobdy Arena.
“He was a game changer,” said Trey Hayes, a senior sociology major at Grambling State University. “His efforts were just superb. It was amazing to see that kind of effort, he was a one man wrecking crew.”
As a Tiger, despite being consistently double and triple teamed, Roberts led the team in scoring averaging 22.7 points per game while shooting .409 percent from the field and .320 from behind the arch. He also poured in at least 30 points in three games while pulling down 5.7 rebounds. In his only two non-conference games, Roberts scored 28 points as well as grabbed 10 rebounds against TCU and put up 19 points against LSU. He was named first team all SWAC earlier this month.
Because Roberts is such an offensive threat to defenders, Tiger head coach Bobby Washington started him as shooting guard. Roberts said that he was originally a point guard, and in order to be successful at the next level he will need to polish up on situational plays because more than likely that’s the position he will be playing if making it to the NBA.
Once the word was out that the former Red Storm guard was free to leave St. John, many schools such as Marshall, Temple, Duquesne, Delaware and Arizona State pursued him but were rejected because of Roberts’ desire to get the HBCU experience. Although there are a few things left he wishes he could accomplish at Grambling, like winning more games and taking part in postseason play, the enduring grind of being a student will all be over for Roberts and he’ll be closer to his dream.
“I definitely had fun [at Grambling],” said Roberts. “This was an experience that I will never forget. I enjoyed everything, but I’m ready to move on.” Roberts said that the people he met and the friends he made while attending Grambling will never be forgotten and he wants his Gram Fam to support him in his journey as a professional. For future updates on Roberts, visit his website Quincyroberts.net, or follow his twitter account @quincyroberts10.
Hoping & prayn that you make it! Im so proud of you, Q 🙂
Greaaaaatttt job I knew you had to get there go hard and impress them scouts you’ll def get it
Too bad Quincy wasn’t at Mississippi Valley St or Norfolk St his chances would have been much better.