Sam’i Roe announced Saturday that he will attend Isaiah Christopher Academy next fall, with the ultimate goal of playing Division I college basketball in the future.
“It was the best fit for me,” Roe said. “I like their style of play. I watched some games from last year and they play fast ball. That’s how I play.”
Isaiah Christopher Academy is a postgraduate school in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
It will give Roe the opportunity to groom his basketball skills as he pursues a scholarship and a chance to play at the NCAA’s highest level.
Roe will be returning to the city where he grew up before moving to Hadley for his sophomore year in high school. It’s also the hometown of his father, former UMass All-American Lou Roe.
“My pops basically just told me if this is the choice I want to make then do what’s best for me and he’s happy,” Sam’i Roe said.
Roe led Hopkins Academy to a third-straight Western Massachusetts Division 4 Tournament title this past winter. In his senior season, Roe averaged 26.4 points, 15.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists.
“I am glad he landed somewhere to further his education and basketball career,” Hopkins coach Angelo Thomas said.
Roe has made substantial improvements to his game under Thomas.
“His outside shooting, his determination on defense,” Thomas said. “Something clicked for him on defense and we just started putting him on the other team’s best player.”
Thomas and Roe shared a bond during his time at Hopkins Academy, and the bond wasn’t just basketball related.
“When he first got here he didn’t talk a lot,” Thomas said. “My favorite memory of him is just talking to him. We have a lot in common outside of basketball.”
Isaiah Christopher Academy just finished its first season and is coached by Allen Ragland, who is also the executive director of the Academy.
Ragland trained with Roe before he left for Massachusetts.
“I have a very good relationship with Coach Ragland,” Roe said. “I like his energy. He is humble and all he wants is his players to succeed.”
Ragland believes in player development first.
“I don’t believe in wins and losses on the court,” Ragland said. “A scholarship for one of my players is a win.
“Basketball is the easy part because he has the talent,” Ragland added. “But he has a lot to work on.”
