The adjustment from high school basketball to college basketball can be difficult but for Marist’s former four-star recruit in 2022 Travis Roberts the transition may be a little less challenging.
Travis Roberts hails from Waldorf, Maryland, and started his basketball career at one of the best high schools in the state: Bishop Walsh High School. While there, Roberts played against some of the top players from some of the best teams in the country. During his two-year career at Bishop Walsh, he played against schools like IMG Academy, Montverde Academy, and many more.
“I went there to focus on basketball, ” said Roberts. “I was fortunate to play in a great conference that involved all the top players.”
The 6-6 guard played against a team full of NBA talents when he faced Oak Hill Academy. The Warriors trotted out future Philadelphia 76er Judah Mintz, a former Syracuse guard, and current Duke Blue Devil Caleb Foster who is heading into his sophomore year.
Mintz went undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft and worked hard to earn a roster spot and now looks to break out in his rookie season. Caleb Foster started off fast in his first year at Duke and is looking to come back strong in his sophomore year after missing the postseason due to an ankle injury.
Against Oak Hill’s talented and complete team, Roberts rose to the occasion, posting a career-high 28 points on 50 percent shooting from three.
Oak Hill was one of the best teams in the Nike EYBL that year but over the past couple of years, Montverde Academy had dominated the high school landscape. Monteverde came off an unbeaten year and wanted another. The year before they had sent future stars Cade Cunningham and Scottie Barnes to the Pistons and Raptors respectively.
When a Bishop Walsh team ranked towards the bottom of the conference ran into Monteverde, the Eagles had no problem against the Spartans. Montverde was loaded with Division 1 level talent with stars like Pistons first-round draft pick Jalen Duran and Dariq Whitehead, the number two ranked high school player in 2021 by ESPN. Roberts played another solid game against an elite team as the second-leading scorer with ten points.
During another tough game for the Spartans, they played against Isaiah Todd and Word Christian Academy. Todd gave Roberts and the Spartans problems all game. He went on to be the first player to ever sign with the NBA G League Ignite in 2020. One year later, Todd was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round and traded multiple times before being waived on September 30, 2023, by the Memphis Grizzlies.
During the 2019 Hoopfest Tournament, Word Christian defeated Bishop Walsh with help from Todd’s 21 points and some outstanding dunks. Roberts played well and although the Spartans lost he had 12 points and four threes. He had the tough challenge of guarding Todd for some possessions but still played well and embraced the challenge of guarding the future Grizzly.
“Being able to play against top players gives you motivation,” Roberts said. “You know that you can compete with them. It’s exciting to play against top players and top teams.”
In Bishop Walsh’s first year in the Nike EYBL Scholastic Conference, they were unranked and took a lot of tough losses throughout the year. But the Spartans had one big win during the year against the tenth-ranked Watsach Tigers.
Watsach was led by a trio of stars, and they all committed to Division I schools. Chris Bell headed to Syracuse University and now enters his junior year. Roddy Gale is now in his sophomore year at Ohio State University. During the 2021 season, the Tigers were one the best teams in the country at the time of the matchup with a 4-1 record.
Bishop Walsh played their best game of the year and with help from Roberts, they stunned the Tigers. Roberts had 24 points and guarded Watsatchs best player all game Chris Bell holding him to eight points.
“It was my senior year, we played against Wasatch,” said Roberts. “I had like 24 points. It was a big win because they were ranked as a top team in the nation and Bishop Walsh? We weren’t ranked at all.”
Roberts closed his high school career out on a high note in his final prep game when he had 17 points, three blocks and two steals. The guard showed his player development and how it helped him become a two-way player.
“Coach Dugg helped me with my player development and stuff. Ever since 7th grade he’s been helping develop me into a guard,” Roberts said.
After ending his fantastic career at Bishop Walsh, Roberts played at Jacksonville State for two years. Roberts didn’t get a lot of opportunities at Jacksonville State and felt like he was ready for a bigger role elsewhere.
Roberts decided to join Marist in May and is looking to help the team in any way he can. He told his coaches he is willing to do whatever he can to help the Red Foxes this year.
Edited by Marley Pope
Graphic by Quinn DiFiore; Photos From Marist Athletics
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