Roberts leaves Southeast for St. Louis school

Southeast Missouri State University junior point guard Kevin Roberts has decided to try and find more playing time with another program.

Roberts, who led the Ohio Valley Conference in assists last year but has played sparingly this season for the 5-3 Indians, left the Southeast squad earlier this week. He will transfer to Division III Fontbonne in his hometown of St. Louis, where he will be eligible to play immediately.

"I start practice with them Tuesday," Roberts said. "My sister played there and now she's a coach there, so I'm looking forward to it."

Roberts, a recruited walk-on at Southeast, saw some playing time as a freshman, then broke into the starting lineup last season and averaged 6.2 assists per game to lead the OVC. He tied a school record with 13 assists against Morehead State, and his 179 assists were the second-highest single-season total in school history.

But Roberts, who averaged just 1.7 points per game last season and rarely shot, found himself on the third string this year behind freshman Terrick Willoughby and Valparaiso transfer Mike Nelke. Roberts was averaging just 6.3 minutes of playing time. He had six assists and seven points.

"It was disappointing. I thought I earned a chance, but they brought in somebody they thought was better. I understand that," Roberts said of his lack of playing time. "But last year, being a walk-on, showing people what I can do, I really enjoyed that. I didn't even expect to play at Southeast coming in as freshman."

Said Southeast coach Gary Garner, "Kevin had a great season for us last year when we were kind of shorthanded. He's been a big part of our program and we wish him nothing but the best."