The NCAA has reviewed the waiver on Syracuse freshman forward Tyler Roberson and declared him a full qualifier.
“He’s all cleared,” Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim told SNY.tv Thursday by phone. “It took a little while but he’s cleared.”
The 6-foot-9 forward out of Roselle (N.J.) Catholic is currently taking courses at Syracuse and had been anxiously waiting to see if his transcript met the NCAA’s minimum standards for incoming student-athletes to be eligible to play as freshmen.
Roberson joins fellow freshmen Tyler Ennis, B.J. Johnson, Ron Patterson and Chinonso Obokoh in Syracuse’s 2013 recruiting class.
“We are very happy for Tyler that all of his hard work has paid off and he has been cleared to play this season,” Roselle Catholic coach Dave Boff told SNY.tv.
Boeheim said he is excited about what Roberson can bring to the frontcourt and the 2-3 zone as the Orange enter the ACC.
“I think he’ s obviously a very talented player that brings tremendous effort and rebounding skills,” Boeheim said. “He’s a natural kind of go-get-the-ball rebounder. And losing James Southerland we have need for another guy at the forward spot and you couple him with Jerami Grant and C.J. Fair, you have a pretty good threesome in terms of forwards who are athletic and capable of making big plays for your team.”
Roberson averaged 17.5 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.3 blocks last season when Roselle Catholic won the New Jersey Tournament of Champions title. He was named the New Jersey Player of the Year.
“I feel he will start on the wing in the 2-3,” Roselle Catholic assistant coach Tom Sacks told SNY.tv.
“He’s a very good rebounder and shot-blocker. On offense, I see him as the three. Tyler has become a very good shooter and explosive scorer who can go end-to-end. He runs the court and will finish above the rim. In two years, he’s a lottery pick.”
