Justin Roberts and R.J. Hunter

Men's Basketball

No Ordinary Neighbor

Leading up to opening night of the 2020-21 Georgia State men's basketball season, each member of the roster will be featured on a different day with a story, video, and social media elements. We continue the series today with Justin Roberts who enters his junior season in a Panther uniform.

For kids growing up, the other kids that they most likely become friends with first are their neighbors. It's easy to go out and play after school until it is time to come in for dinner. For Justin Roberts, that neighbor down the street just happened to be R.J. Hunter, and the relationship and bond he created with the Hunter family eventually led him to Georgia State.

"I've been on R.J. since he was probably in middle school, like seventh grade," said Roberts. "I have always looked up to him and the people he grew up with like Marquis Teague and the guys who played on his teams.

"I grew up down the street from R.J. He played with my older brother at Pike High School when they went to the state championship and got runner-up. I have been going to coach Ron Hunter's games, especially the ones he coached without shoes, since I was in third or fourth grade, and he was at IUPUI with George Hill."

Basketball in Indiana is just different. Babies and toddlers in Indiana often say 'ball' before they say 'mama' or 'dada.' That may explain why some of the greatest of all-time, and as many consider Georgia State's greatest of all-time – R.J. Hunter – hail from the Hoosier State.

"Playing pick-up in Indiana, growing up in middle school and high school, it is not like playing pickup anywhere else," Roberts said. "There is always someone who is just as good as you or has the same opportunities as you have. Playing up and playing older guys, it just runs really, really deep up there."

Roberts has at least two more years in a Georgia State uniform and hopes to push himself just as his dad pushed him so that when his days are done, he too can be considered one of the best to put on a Panther uniform.

"My dad was always pushing me and seeing better in me than even I see in myself since I was young," Roberts said. "He was always there for me and I was always able to count on him. He would take me to camps and we would always been on the road for 12 or 13 hours on the weekend so that I could get exposure. He made a lot of sacrifices for me so for that, he is probably my hero."  

So, in a year of so much uncertainty, one constant remains – the bond between childhood friends remains. Although Hunter is playing halfway around the world in Turkey while Roberts is back here on Decatur Street, there is no doubt each will be watching each other while both strive to make the state of Indiana and the Panther Family proud.
 
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Players Mentioned

Justin Roberts

#2 Justin Roberts

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6' 0"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Justin Roberts

#2 Justin Roberts

6' 0"
Junior
G