Missouri Basketball: What does C.J. Roberts bring to the table?

Looking to rebound, Missouri basketball has snagged four-star point guard C.J. Roberts

A lot has transpired at the University of Missouri over the last few years. Unfortunately, most of it hasn’t been on the playing field, the gridiron or the hardwood.

The institution, both academically and athletically, has publicly endured a great deal of pain and strife. With enrollment down and expectations low, the university looks to move forward. Working to improve the school’s stigma and circumvent future problems, the university has made wholesale changes within the administration.

Now begins the long process for Mizzou to get back to being a respected member of the academic community and a competitive participant in the athletic arena.

Head coach Kim Anderson in particular, is determined to change the trajectory of the men’s basketball program.

The commitment of four-star point guard C.J. Roberts should be a good start.

Although Roberts isn’t a blue chip recruit, he does bring a lot to the table for the program.

Roberts is a good athlete with plenty of quickness and a nice first step. He’s a good ball-handler with an effective crossover dribble. His compact frame and shifty movements help him evade defenders and get into the lane. He’s good on the fast break and in transition. He isn’t afraid to drive into the paint and finish in the lane among taller defenders.

He’s also a player who (barring mishaps like the Tigers have seen over the past few seasons, i.e. transfers) will likely stick around for several years to help anchor the Missouri back court and promote continuity.

Perhaps Roberts wasn’t the first choice at the lead guard position for the Tigers (that honor would probably go to Trae Young), but he is a guy that can come in and immediately help the team and push starting point guard Terrance Phillips to be consistent.

Roberts chose Missouri over offers from Georgia, Mississippi and LSU.

The Tigers currently have offers out to a multitude of players in the 2017 class and hope to score a couple of game-changers in the process. While it’s incredibly unlikely that Mizzou would snag players like Mohamed Bamba or Brian Bowen, simply getting quality program-oriented players is a step in the right direction.

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