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Roberts is on target after taking an early detour from program
By Tom Gaffney
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Tuesday, Feb 03, 2009
The No. 1 free-throw shooter in the Mid-American Conference and, unofficially, in the nation has gone from having a scholarship to paying his own way.
Darryl Roberts, a junior guard at the University of Akron, has made 96.2 percent (50-of-52) of his foul shots to lead the MAC heading into a game tonight at Eastern Michigan.
He would also lead all NCAA Division I players, but is not recognized because he has not made the required 2.5 free throws per game.
Roberts, 20, also is the only member of the Zips' rotation without a scholarship.
''He may be the best walk-on in the country,'' said UA coach Keith Dambrot, whose Zips (13-8, 4-3) take a four-game winning streak to Eastern Michigan (3-18, 1-6).
Roberts signed an NCAA letter of intent with the Zips in November 2005, before his senior season at St. Francis DeSales High School in Toledo. He had some academic problems and became a Prop 48 player for not meeting minimum academic require
ments, but he was able to enroll in school in 2006 with a scholarship.
But in November 2006, he told Dambrot that he had lost interest in the game. He quit the team and the scholarship was taken away.
''He wrote me a note saying, 'Coach, I don't want to be here and I don't want to play anymore,' '' Dambrot said. ''I told him I am not saving him the scholarship then.''
Two months later, Roberts changed his mind, but Dambrot already had offers out to other players.
''It was January, about three weeks into the semester. I didn't even know the guy was still here,'' Dambrot said. ''He said, 'I want to play.' We didn't have a scholarship and we have not had one since.''
Roberts now is financing his education through loans and understands he is responsible for the situation.
''[Dambrot] is the only coach I ever wanted to play for,'' Roberts said. ''At the time, I didn't want to play basketball.''
At St. Francis, Roberts averaged 18.2 points as a senior on his way to making third-team all-Ohio and being ranked as one of the top guards in the state. Roberts signed with the Zips, but complications followed.
''He blew it early. He nonqualified,'' Dambrot said. ''He had a great ACT score, but ran into some issues. He didn't graduate from high school until the summertime and he was a Prop.
''I was kind of upset. We spent a lot of time with Darryl. He is a great kid. I worked really hard to get him on the right track. He's been unbelievable about solving his problems.''
After the back-and-forth decisions about his basketball career, Roberts became eligible on Dec. 17, 2007. He played 26 games last season, averaging 3.9 points, with a high of 12 against Toledo.
He came into this season as one of the Zips' veterans since the top three scorers had exhausted their eligibility, and freshmen and sophomores dominated the roster.
''I just know that in order for us to be as good as we need to be, I need to produce . . . to work harder,'' said Roberts, who is considered a junior, but could still have two more years of eligibility if he meets NCAA academic requirements. ''It's paid off for me so far.''
In 2008-09, the 6-foot Roberts has started 11 of 21 games, and is fifth on the team in scoring (7.7), first in 3-point shooting (37.5 percent) and, of course, first in free-throw shooting.
''I shot about 85 percent in high school. This is the best I have ever shot,'' Roberts said of his free-throw accuracy. ''It's one thing I always thought was important, especially at the end of games. It's something I take pride in.''
Roberts said the key to his free-throw success is consistently shooting the same way and giving the ball a chance by arcing it high enough.
''I always make sure I get it over the square of the backboard, the white line,'' said Roberts, whose uncle, Mike Roberts played at Kent State and is now a college referee. ''If I get it over the top of that, it usually goes in.''
BracketBusters
The Zips will be meeting Valparaiso University on Feb. 21, on the road in the ESPNU BracketBusters.
It will not be one of the 13 games televised on the ESPN family of networks. The game time will be announced later.
Valparaiso has a 6-16 overall record and is 3-8 in the Horizon League.
The teams have one common opponent. Both won at Youngstown State, with the Crusaders winning 68-57 on Dec. 4, and the Zips winning 67-53 on Jan. 26.
Senior forward Urule Igbavboa is the only Crusaders' player averaging in double figures.
As part of the BracketBusters format, Valparaiso will play at Rhodes Arena either in 2009-10 or 2010-11.
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
The No. 1 free-throw shooter in the Mid-American Conference and, unofficially, in the nation has gone from having a scholarship to paying his own way.
Get the full article here.
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