Roselle Catholic's Tyler Roberson picks Syracuse over Villanova and Kansas

roberson.jpg Tyler Roberson

Tyler Roberson, the 6-foot-9 forward from Union, N.J. selected Syracuse over Kansas and Villanova tonight on ESPNU's basketball signing day show.

Roberson, dressed in a pearl gray dress shirt and navy patterned tie, seemed a bit nervous as he made his announcement in front of a national television audience.

After a preamble of small talk, Roberson was asked which school he had chosen. He turned to his right, lifted a long-sleeved T-shirt with the Syracuse Block S to the camera and just like that, it was done. Roberson's announcement came within minutes of the start of the show.

"They're going into the ACC next year which is gonna be a really good conference," Roberson said to explain his choice. "And Coach Boeheim is like one of the best coaches in college basketball and they're just a really good college team."

Roberson spent much of the day with his mentor and AAU coach Tom Sacks, who coaches the New Jersey Roadrunners. Sacks said he wanted to distract Roberson with basketball workouts to take his mind off the pressure of his television announcement.

Roberson attended the signing show with his mother and his aunt, Sacks said. Earlier this week, Sacks said he sat down with Roberson to discuss his decision.

"I said, 'Tyler, I love you like a son. You're going to have to make this decision. Dig deep in your heart and think about what's best for you,'" Sacks said.

Sacks described Roberson, a Top 30 pick on all the recruiting websites, as a gifted athlete "who has the chance to be the total package."

"He jumps, he's long and athletic, he shoots the ball and he runs the court like a gazelle," Sacks said.

Roberson's coach at Roselle Catholic High School said Thursday that he believed Roberson's best basketball awaits him. He has matured from a pure post player into a versatile athlete capable of sinking 3-point shots and getting past his defenders off the bounce, Roselle Catholic coach Dave Boff said.

His best basketball attribute, Boff said, might be the way he pursues missed shots.

"He might be the best rebounder in the state," Boff said.

Roberson said he hopes to "just come in and help the team however I can and contribute." He said he will continue to work on every aspect of his game, from shooting and dribbling to gaining strength and blocking shots.

Dave Boff said on Thursday that choosing a college had weighed on Roberson these past few weeks. Roberson acknowledged his decision to pick Syracuse over Villanova and Kansas was a difficult one.

"It's been tough," he said. "All the schools that were recruiting me are really good programs and it's hard to choose one school."

Sacks stressed that in Roberson, Syracuse will get more than just a skilled basketball player:

"He's a great human being. He has great manners and is so soft-spoken," Sacks said. "And Tyler is a gym rat. All he wants to do is work on his game. He never takes a day off. He never complains."

Syracuse had already received commitments from four players in the Class of 2013; Ron Patterson, a 6-3 guard from Brewster Academy in New Hampshire, Tyler Ennis, a 6-3 point guard from St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, B.J. Johnson, a 6-foot-7 small forward from Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, Pa., and Chinonso Obokoh, a 6-10 center from Bishop Kearney High School in Rochester.

Chris McCullough, a Class of 2014 forward who attends Brewster Academy, has also made a verbal commitment to the Orange.

Paul Biancardi, one of ESPN's recruiting analysts, had this to say about Syracuse's 2013 recruiting haul:

"Love everything about the class, but Tyler Roberson (has) versatility by passing, scoring and ball-handling. You put him with Tyler Ennis, you have two guys that are terrific in transition. That's the way Syracuse scores the ball best. He reminds me of a Syracuse player. He's long, athletic, best in the open floor. That's what they recruit. That's their profile."

-Donna
dditota@syracuse.com
315-470-2208

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