Demetre Roberts is an American professional basketball player for KK Joker of the Basketball League of Serbia (BLS). He played college basketball for the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights and the St. Thomas Aquinas Spartans.

Demetre Roberts
KK Joker
PositionPoint guard
LeagueBLS
Personal information
Born (2000-01-22) January 22, 2000 (age 24)
NationalityAmerican
Listed height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Listed weight165 lb (75 kg)
Career information
High schoolMount Vernon
(Mount Vernon, New York)
College
NBA draft2023: undrafted
Playing career2023–present
Career history
2023Austin Spurs
2023–2024FMP Soccerbet
2024–presentKK Joker
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-NEC (2023)
  • 3× First-team All-ECC (2020–2022)
  • Second-team All-ECC (2019)
  • ECC Rookie of the Year (2019)
  • ECC tournament MOP (2022)

Early life and high school career

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Roberts grew up in The Bronx and moved to Mount Vernon, New York at age 11. His mother was a detective in New York City, and he mostly spent time with his grandmother during his childhood.[1] Roberts played basketball for Mount Vernon High School, where he became the starting point guard as a junior.[2] He helped his team win the Class AA state title in his senior season, earning tournament most valuable player honors.[3] He was lightly recruited by NCAA Division I programs and received his only scholarship offer from NCAA Division II program St. Thomas Aquinas.[2]

College career

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Roberts played for St. Thomas Aquinas under head coach Tobin Anderson. As a freshman, he was named East Coast Conference (ECC) Rookie of the Year and second-team All-ECC.[4] Roberts earned first-team All-ECC honors in his next three years and won three ECC tournament titles, being named tournament most outstanding player in his senior season.[1] He transferred to Fairleigh Dickinson in the NCAA Division I, following coach Anderson, for his fifth season.[5] Roberts was named first-team All-Northeast Conference.[6] In the first round of the 2023 NCAA tournament, he recorded 12 points, four rebounds and four assists, helping 16-seed Fairleigh Dickinson upset first-seed Purdue, 63–58.[7]

Professional career

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Austin Spurs (2023)

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After going undrafted on the 2023 NBA draft, Roberts joined the Austin Spurs on October 31, 2023, after a tryout.[8] However, he was waived on November 20.[9]

FMP Soccerbet (2023–present)

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On December 14, 2023, Roberts signed with FMP Soccerbet of the Basketball League of Serbia and the ABA League.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Demetre Roberts '22". St. Thomas Aquinas College. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Carino, Jerry (January 25, 2023). "FDU basketball is a great story, on and off the court". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  3. ^ Thomson, Josh (November 29, 2017). "2017-18 lohud Super 7: Demetre Roberts of Mount Vernon". The Journal News. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  4. ^ Thomson, Josh (January 23, 2020). "From Mount Vernon to STAC, Demetre Roberts is thriving: 'You can't work as hard as he does'". The Journal News. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  5. ^ "Roberts and Singleton First Players to Join FDU in the Anderson Era". FDU Knights Athletics. May 24, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  6. ^ "#NECMBB March Madness Preview: FDU Takes Aim at #1 Seed Purdue in NCAA First Round". Northeast Conference. March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  7. ^ Szkolar, Adrian (March 17, 2023). "Passed on by Division-I schools at Mount Vernon, Demetre Roberts helps FDU pull shocker". The Journal News. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  8. ^ "Austin Spurs Announce 2023-24 Training Camp Roster". OurSportsCentral.com. October 31, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  9. ^ "Austin Spurs Acquire Julian Washburn". OurSportsCentral.com. November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  10. ^ "Demetre Roberts novi plejmejker Pantera". KKFMP.rs (in Serbian). December 14, 2023. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
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