February 20, 2007

By DAMON L. SAYLES / The Dallas Morning News

PLANO - Every now and then, John Roberson will think about the image he once saw in the mirror.

Cornrows were a part of his appearance last year, an effort, he said, to have a bad-boy image.

"I'm with the grown-man look now," Roberson said while rubbing his hand over his short hair.

A new hairstyle is just another example of change for Roberson, a senior basketball standout at Plano. Adjustment has been a major component of his high school career.
Roberson has also gone through an address change between his sophomore and junior years and a position change upon arriving in Texas. He has benefited from the changes by helping Plano win its first state championship in boys basketball and by earning a scholarship to play at Texas Tech.

"Sometimes, change is a good thing," Roberson said. "I mean, I really can't complain right now."

Roberson (pronounced "Robber-son"), a 5-11 point guard, is ranked No. 6 on the TexasHoops.com list of seniors. He leads 5A area players in scoring (25.4 points per game) and ranks sixth in assists (6.1). Roberson and Plano begin defense of their 2006 state title today against South Garland in a 5A Region I bi-district playoff game at SMU's Moody Coliseum.

Roberson moved to Plano from Winter Park, Fla., a suburb of Orlando, before the start of his junior year.

Plano coach Tom Inman said he remembers the first time he saw Roberson play in a pick-up game. He watched Roberson hit shots, pass well and make good decisions away from the ball. Inman said he was astonished when Roberson told him he played shooting guard at Lake Howell High School.

"I didn't know why he wasn't running the point," Inman said. "He's a great shooter, but it took about 15 minutes to realize he does things at the point that you can't coach."

Inman moved him to point guard, and Roberson has led Plano to a 53-15 record in his two seasons.

"I've said it before, and I'll say it again," Inman said. "One-on-one, he's unguardable,"

Roberson helped Lake Howell advance to the state final his freshman year and the state semifinals his sophomore year. He had high expectations for his junior season.

And then, the move came. Valarie Roberson, John's mother, was hired as a network engineer in downtown Dallas.

"When you're 16, you've got your friends and your life, and you don't want any of that interrupted," Valarie Roberson said. "When I made the decision, he was furious."

Roberson said his adjustment was relatively smooth, aside from some minor team rules.

"I hated shaving at first," Roberson said, referring to Inman's policy that his players must have clean faces.

"Forget shaving. I think he hated me a lot last year," Inman said, laughing.

Roberson's transition was aided by teammates who welcomed him. Junior Nate Christian is one of his closest friends. Christian also is the player who pushes him most.

"Coming from a basketball background, I know that if he wants to get to where he wants to be, he needs to be pushed hard," said Christian, whose father is former Air Force and SMU men's basketball assistant coach Dean Christian. "Even when John gets mad at me, I'm going to push him until he gets to that point."

Roberson has never been one to dodge hard work. He said a reason why he chose Texas Tech was because coach Bob Knight would push him.

"I know he's tough, but he's also the all-time winningest coach in NCAA history," Roberson said. "He's the best teacher to ever coach the game on a college level.

"I can't speak for everyone else, but that's what I want to surround myself with. Plus, he makes sure all his kids graduate. Why wouldn't you want to play for him?"

Roberson has been on winning teams all his life. His Florida summer select teams in elementary and middle school placed second five times in Amateur Athletic Union national competition. He's played in three state tournaments as a high school player.

Before last season, however, he didn't know how it felt to finish first.

"Last year was a sigh of relief," Roberson said. "I finally got the monkey off my back. At least that's what it felt like."

Roberson said the emotion he experienced following Plano's win against Kingwood in last year's final was indescribable. He also said the hunger for a second championship instantly heightened. Inman said Knight will inherit "the best in the world, somebody who's hungry for knowledge."

"He's constantly striving to be that much better and be prepared for the next level, whatever it is," Valerie Robinson said. "His maturity level has grown so much."

To have Roberson tell it, it's all about changing for the better.

Class 5A Region II boys bi-district basketball playoff: Plano (24-7) vs. South Garland (23-9), 6 p.m., today , Moody Coliseum.

JOHN ROBERSON

Age: 18 (Born Oct. 28, 1988)

Birthplace: Kansas City, Kan.

Siblings: Sister, 22-year-old Monique, a student at South Florida.

Notable: Was active in karate before playing basketball. He began martial arts training at 4. "He was always karate chopping his sister and leaving footprints from kicking the wall," said his mother. ... Before moving to Texas, he only received major college interest from South Florida and App. State.