Quincy Roberts has come over to the SWAC from the Big East and brought his game to the big stage at Grambling State University.
In his first three games of conference play, Roberts leads the SWAC in scoring with a 27.67 points per game average while shooting 50% from the field and pulling down 6.7 rebounds.
Despite the Alabama St. Hornets spoiling the Tigers’ conference opener, Roberts let loose for 33 points, shot 12 of 18 from the floor and made all seven free throws in a 73-62 home loss.
That loss was followed by the Tigers’ first win of the season in a match up against the Alabama A&M Bulldogs in which Roberts lifted the Tigers by scoring 21 points, including making 10 of 11 free throws in a tightly contested 60-55 victory.
Grambling grimly concluded their week by being out played 72-59 by their in-state archrivals, Southern Jaguars. Roberts again gave his everything for his team, scoring 29 points and pulling down 7 rebounds.
Roberts is a versatile guard with 6-foot-5-inch frame. He’s agile and to say he handles and shoot the ball well is an understatement, but those tangibles aren’t the only thing that makes stopping him from scoring problematic for opposing defenders. The experience he gained from competing in the well-respected, tough and competitive Big East conference is what he feels gives him an advantage in the SWAC conference.
“Don’t get me wrong the SWAC has some great players who work hard,” said Roberts. “I just think the Big East is a tougher conference in general. I played as a true freshman and I’ve learned little knick and knacks that gives me a slight edge.”
Out of Harrisburg High located in Pennsylvania, Roberts was highly recruited.
Originally he committed to play for the “U” at the University of Miami but decommitted and decided to take his talents to St. John and play for Norm Roberts, whose currently an assistant coach at Florida.
As a freshman, Roberts saw action in 33 of 34 games. He started out as a role player coming off the bench, but thanks to injuries he began to see more minutes. Seemingly, Roberts’ career began to incline and he wasn’t far from reaching his dreams of playing in the NBA.
He went from getting minimal playing time to becoming a key contributor to eventually starting. It wasn’t until St. John decided to cut its ties with former head coach Norm Roberts when Quincy’s path to the pros was skewed.
The Red Storm brought in former ESPN colleague and UCLA coach, Steve Lavin to change the direction of the program and that is when Roberts’ role diminished. Roberts told Daniel Martin of Jonny Jungle, “Once [Roberts] got fired, I wanted to stay. I was just starting to become a part of [the program]… It wasn’t working out well on the court. I feel like they were making it hard on me. Playing-wise I felt like I should have been playing more.”
After Norm Roberts departed, Quincy was medically redshirted his sophomore year, but mid-way through the season he filed papers to transfer to a school where his game would be appreciated.
Once the word was out that Roberts was looking for a new home, he was pursued by numerous schools such as Marshall, Temple, Duquesne, Delaware and Arizona State. He rejected them all because he always wanted to attend a HBCU, even after high school.
Roberts needed a place to play comfortably and Grambling was the right place for him. Not only was it a HBCU, but also the Tigers lacked an offensive threat such as Roberts.
“Grambling is the most historic school in the Black community,” said Roberts. “It’s legendary and I want to leave a legacy.”
“Coach Washington didn’t know about me until I called him and told him I wanted to come play for him. I hadn’t even visited the school yet, but once he heard my history about me playing in the Big East I was welcomed.”
Dec. 22,2012 in when Roberts returned to the hardwood. The Tigers traveled to the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum to take on the TCU Horned Frogs and although Grambling dropped it’s ninth straight game in an 83-53 losing effort, Roberts was impressive. In his debut, he totaled a double double scoring 28 points and pulling down 10 boards.
“It felt lovely,” said Roberts “It was a long time coming, but I really put the work in during my absence. I used the time to observe and become a better student of the game.”
After about a year hiatus, his numbers verify that he hadn’t missed a beat on the court since being activated. He’s led the Tigers in scoring in every game and has always scored at least 19. He had two games where he scored 30+ points and most importantly, he has led the Tigers to two conference wins that has given the Tigers’ basketball program hope and excitement.
“After seeing Roberts play I feel like he brings much leadership to the team as well as being a dominant scorer,” said Dalfred Jones, a senior English and communication major.
