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Montverde Academy (FL) prospect Josh Roberts has an official visit to St. John’s this weekend, September 1-3.
Roberts, a 6’9” big man originally from Alabama, is playing a postgraduate season at Montverde; in high school, he doubled as a football player and thought about going to junior college after going underrecruited in Alabama.
For the Rumble, Julius Kim caught up with Roberts last week, and asked him why the interest in St. John’s - and how this summer has raised his profile.
Playing on a high-level Southern Stampede AAU team “helped me out a lot,” Roberts said. “My recruitment blew up since I played with (Southern) Stampede on the circuit.”
During the summer, he showed his athleticism while averaging six points per game and nearly seven rebounds per contest.
“Auburn, Georgia, Wichita State, Florida Gulf Coast, Troy, VCU, Saint Louis,” said Roberts about schools coming after him this fall. “I’ve also talked to South Carolina and Clemson.”
On what he is looking forward to on the visit, Josh Roberts mentioned some New York connections.
“I don’t know much about St. John’s,” said Roberts about the program. “My parents and most of my family are from New York and I know that they’re a great program. I know they got the legend Chris Mullin as head coach so that’s big time and I like it.”
As Roberts played with 2019 6-foot-4 five-star stud Jalen Lecque this past summer, he created a bond with him and his team, Southern Stampede.
“That’s my boy,” said Roberts about Lecque. “He’s a good team player and teammate and we both like to win.”
Roberts looks like a solid athlete, the kind of player that can continue what a forward like Tariq Owens brings to the floor.
While the visit this weekend is exciting, Roberts told Adam Zagoria that is not planning on committing this weekend. So for those hoping for big news to start September may be disappointed. But as the first visit, St. John’s has shown a willingness to prioritize a lesser-known player with what the staff feels is major upside.