UPDATED: 11 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15
Top class of 2005 recruit Josh McRoberts will announce his college decision at a press conference at 3:45 CST tomorrow. He is expected to decide between Duke, North Carolina, Indiana, Notre Dame, Kansas, and Arizona.
The announcement comes right after McRoberts and his family took an unofficial visit to Duke this past weekend. As reported in Monday’s edition of The Chronicle, McRoberts seemed very pleased with his visit, and according to theinsiders.com, sources say he will commit to Duke.
Josh McRoberts’ father Tim McRoberts would neither confirm nor deny such rumors in a telephone interview with The Chronicle Monday night. He said he has not yet been able to contact all of the schools involved in McRoberts’ recruitment.
“I’d like to be able to call all of the schools that have been active with Josh,” Tim McRoberts said. “The coach of the school to which [McRoberts] will commit knows where he’s going to go but the other coaches don’t.”
Tim McRoberts did, however, confirm that his son’s Duke visit was a success.
“We’re very pleased,” he said. “The trip went very very well.”
Josh McRoberts, a 6-foot-9 power forward from Carmel, In., averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds per game as a sophomore last year for Carmel High School. Versatile and athletic, he is considered one of the top ten prospects in the class of 2005.
Were he to pick Duke, McRoberts would be men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski’s second commitment in the class of 2005, joining point guard Greg Paulus, who gave Duke a verbal commitment earlier this month.
Check The Chronicle Online Tuesday night for an interview with McRoberts Tuesday night after the press conference.
ORIGINAL STORY, posted 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 15:
Duke's chances to land Josh McRoberts are looking better and better.
The junior forward took an unofficial visit with his family to Duke this weekend and walked away impressed.
"[Duke's] great," McRoberts said in an interview with The Chronicle this weekend. "I really like the players..., I really enjoyed [the visit] and I really like Duke."
The talented Carmel, Ind., native spent this past weekend with men's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski and the coaching staff, shooting hoops with Duke's current players, and taking in the sights and sounds of Duke's campus. That included Sunday service in the historic Chapel and Duke's 27-24 football victory over Rice Saturday evening.
"[Basketball practice] was a good experience," McRoberts said. "It helps you to see where you're at."
The versatile 6-foot-9 forward also used the experience to glean valuable coaching tips from Duke's staff. McRoberts says he'll use the information to help focus him on playing at the next level.
"I used to be really worried about my strength, but the coaches said I'll be strong enough," McRoberts said.
Right now, McRoberts tips the scales at anywhere from 215 to 220 pounds, which is a significant increase from his freshman playing weight of 190 pounds. Although he says he'll continue lifting weights, bulking up may no longer be his primary concern.
"I want to stay where I'm strong enough to play but agile enough to play, too," the talented Indianan said.
Instead, McRoberts plans to work more on his shooting, which he addressed as one of his major weaknesses.
"My shooting definitely needs to improve," McRoberts said.
Although Duke's coaching staff was restricted in the amount of contact they could have with him, McRoberts did mention that the staff was able to give him some tips on how to improve his shot--and some lofty comparisons to Blue Devil greats past and present.
"Everyone's been telling me I look like Shavlik [Randolph] or Shavlik's little brother," McRoberts said, laughing. He also drew comparisons to Mike Dunleavy and Danny Ferry.
McRoberts averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds per game as a sophomore for Carmel High School last year. A versatile and aggressive inside player, McRoberts is considered to be one of the top ten players in the class of 2005 according to theinsiders.com.
The versatile power forward is currently considering six schools: Duke, Arizona, Kansas, Indiana, Notre Dame and North Carolina.
Though he has not yet taken the SAT, McRoberts has talked with admissions counselor Christoph Guttentag and has expressed confidence that he will qualify for an athletic scholarship.
"At this time I think I'd be able to get in with no problem," McRoberts asserted, adding that academics was a concern in his eventual college decision.
McRoberts was also happy with Duke's location, mentioning that distance from home would be a small factor in his eventual choice.
"I think that [Duke's] a good distance in that it's not too far," the prized recruit said. "[Duke] is close enough to drive but far enough where I can be my own person."
McRoberts also mentioned Duke's versatility. He typically plays inside in high school but he has mentioned that he can play the three or the four.
"If you play the three or the four you can play anywhere from the two to the five [at Duke]," McRoberts said.
Though he was hesitant to say his recruitment position was much changed from last Wednesday, McRoberts did admit that Duke was in very good shape.
"I'd say Duke would definitely be a leader if there was one," McRoberts said.
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