ANDREW SHORTALL | staff writer

The Sacramento State transfer plays his final year for the Cougars in the San Gabriel Valley.

Davon Roberts is a senior communication studies major as well as the captain of the Cougar basketball team. He switches between the positions power forward and small forward. Like so many other aspiring athletes, he grew up idolizing Michael Jordan.

Basketball was always an important part of his family and his life.

“My dad and older brothers were always playing,” Roberts said.

It still remains an integral part of his family today, as he plays in college and his brother Jerone Roberts plays professionally in Holland.

Roberts grew up playing baseball and basketball. Baseball had him playing at first base and all the outfield positions. He started playing organized basketball in second grade, and found his niche at the two forward positions; he continues to find comfort in these positions today. When his high school career at Glendora rolled around, he gave up baseball and completely dedicated himself to basketball.

Roberts originally went to college at Sacramento State and played basketball for the Hornets.

“I did not really appreciate the playing time I was getting there; so I transferred here,” Roberts said.

Sacramento State is an NCAA Division I school, and coming out of there, Roberts has made an impact on the Cougar basketball team.

There are a few different reasons that Roberts enjoys APU more than Sacramento State. He enjoys the amount of playing time he gets here, but he also enjoys the community here.

“Sacramento State is mostly a commuter school, so it is really different here,” Roberts said.

He also enjoys living and playing basketball closer to home.

“A lot of my old fans from high school and my parents get to come see me play now. They could not when I was at Sacramento,” he said.

Roberts’ parents are not the only ones who are happy to see him in Azusa. The Cougar men’s basketball head coach Justin Leslie appreciates the contributions Roberts has brought to his team.

“Davon is an invaluable part of the team. He is our leading scorer and most consistent player. He leads by example with his work ethic,” Leslie said.

Leslie identifies Davon as a dangerous weapon because his athleticism allows him to shift between both forward positions.

“His quickness allows him to get around power forwards, but he is strong enough to cause a mismatch against small forwards,” Leslie said.

Davon’s teammate and friend Chidi Ajufo also appreciates Davon’s determination. He also commends Davon’s athleticism and raw ability.

“He is a ‘powerhouse.’ He is stronger than anyone in the whole conference. He can take it to the hole and finish every time,” senior center Ajufo said.

Leslie compares Roberts’ style of play to that of the Phoenix Suns’ forward Shawn Marion.

“You forget about him for a second and he makes a play,” Leslie said comparing both these players.

Although Davon idolizes Kobe Bryant and Amare Stoudemire today, he agrees with this comparison.

“He [Marion] is an undersized forward who can run the floor,” Roberts said.

Roberts also said that he loves going into the post because of the amount of physicality and contact “down low.”

Ajufo had a different take on Davon. No NBA comparisons to Davon came to mind.

“There is nothing really unique about Davon, but he can always finish, even if he is triple teamed. You can know what he is going to do next, but there is nothing that you can do to stop him; whether he is taking a shot or laying it up; he is unstoppable,” Ajufo said.

Leslie said that Roberts has a lot of natural talent.

“A lot of my talent is God given, but I definitely need to work at it. A game like basketball demands practicing your skills,” Roberts said.

Leslie also said that Roberts has the athleticism, energy, intensity, and work ethic that could take him to the next level.

“He is a very gifted athlete and can do things that other players could never do, no matter how often they practiced,” Leslie said.

Ajufo agrees with his coach, only more vehemently. He said that Robets mentioned playing overseas in the future, and that he will be following in his older brother’s footsteps.

“He will be playing in Europe, no doubt,” Ajufo said.

Even though Roberts transferred here his senior year, and it was only his first year on the team, his teammates nominated him as one of the three captains. Remarkably, the team recognized his leadership qualities within a very short amount of time.

Ajufo said that the team recognized Roberts’ leadership so early.

“Davon’s three year experience at Sacramento State (a division one school). That made him a candidate for captain right away. His experience brought him a lot of respect from the whole team,” Ajufo said.

Roberts’ transferring to APU from Sacramento State has brought him many new opportunities he would not have found if he remained in Sacramento. Among his increased playing time, he has created his career highlight here. This year’s game against UCLA, one of the most prestigious college basketball organizations, is what he calls his career highlight.

Along with all these things it has allowed him to live closer to home so his parents can come to his games again, just like in high school. He has come from a school where he got a minimal amount of playing time to a school where his coach and fellow teammates appreciate him immensely.

Despite all the praise Roberts has received for his basketball talent, he is not a one-fold person. According to Leslie, his positive qualities go beyond basketball. He sees him as an upstanding individual.

“He is very introverted, but very interesting. He is extremely witty and humorous; there is so much more to him than just basketball,” Leslie said.
His leadership qualities will also be beneficial to him in more than just basketball.
Roberts endured three years playing in the shadows, and he is now shining in the limelight with the possibility of a career in Europe.