After a highly decorated career at Hopkins Academy, and a postgraduate year at Isaiah Christopher Academy in New Jersey, Sam’i Roe has found a new home to continue his basketball career.
Roe will attend Palm Beach State College, a Division I junior college in Florida. Palm Beach State announced the news on Twitter, Thursday.
“Palm Beach is a great school,” Roe said. “The coaching staff is very nice and I am looking forward to learning lots of things from them and would to thank them for this fantastic opportunity.”
Palm Beach State is coached by Martin McCann, and is located about 65 miles north of Miami.
Over the last four years, the Panthers have been consistently ranked in the National Junior College Athletic Association’s Top 25. Players from the school have gone on to programs such as University of Portland, Stephen F. Austin, Illinois State and Jacksonville University.
Roe’s father, Lou Roe, played at UMass from 1991-1995 and is one of the all-time great Minutemen.
The idea of going to school and playing basketball in a warm climate was attractive to Sam’i Roe.
“I love the no winter,” Roe said. “The campus is beautiful.”
During his postgraduate year, Roe played against tough competition that included some Division I junior colleges. Isaiah Christopher Academy coach Allen Ragland said Roe improved, especially on the defensive end, during his time at ICA.
“He’s a totally different kid,” Ragland said. “On and off the court. He’s taking life more seriously. Using the game as a tool for education. He went up against some tough guards and at times got frustrated, but improved.”
Roe received some attention from Division I schools, including Bradley University according to Ragland.
“He still needs work around explosiveness and leaping ability,” Ragland said.
Roe is considered a combo-guard with the ability to play point guard as well as shooting guard. He can use the dribble to get to the rim as well as set up teammates. His smooth jumper is a good complement to his quickness on offense.
“He was one of our main guys,” Ragland said.
Roe is listed at 6 feet, 1 inch and 180 pounds.
“My year at ICA was great,” Roe said. “We played in a tough prep conference and it was a different, higher level than Hopkins. Coach (Ragland) did a good job training me and my teammates.”
Roe won three Western Massachusetts Division 4 Tournament championships for the Golden Hawks under coach Angelo Thomas. His ability to score increased every year, along with his passing and rebounding. Roe finished with over 1,000 career points.
His defense also got better. During his senior season he had the task of guarding the other team’s top option.
“I want to thank my Massachusetts family for helping me throughout my high school years,” Roe said. “They know who they are.”
