Trey’Veon Roberts was understandably pleased when the decision was made to keep him on Waukegan’s varsity roster as a sophomore two years ago.
The promotion validated Roberts’ belief in himself as an ascending player, and it boosted his morale to know he was considered one of the top players in a program with an abundance of talent.
There was one caveat, however.
“It was very frustrating sitting on the bench all year,” Roberts said. “There were a lot of times where I felt like I wanted to move down and dominate down there.
“We had a couple of conversations about the benefits of staying up, but I wasn’t too interested in hearing that. It was hurting my confidence a little, but I knew I had to just stay with it.”
Roberts did exactly that. With encouragement from his mother and reassurance from the coaching staff, he stayed the course and paid his dues.
Roberts eventually understood that the work he was doing behind the scenes was invaluable.
“I realize now that it was beneficial,” he said. “Playing with older guys helped me a lot, and I feel that the determination I have now came from practicing against them. Trying to stay in front of seniors on defense isn’t easy.”
Waukegan coach Ron Ashlaw knew that would be the case and watched as the 6-foot Roberts has become an integral piece for a team that sees no limit to its potential this season.
“When you guard someone on 25 straight possessions who’s better than you, there’s value in that, going hard every day in practice,” Ashlaw said. “I’ve always given him credit because he sacrificed a sophomore year of game minutes at the price of development. He got quicker, he got more instinctive, and now his career has really blossomed.”
It’s no coincidence that Roberts has developed a reputation for being a defense-first player for the defending North Suburban Conference co-champion Bulldogs (7-2, 1-1). In his first season as a varsity starter, the senior guard is averaging 2.6 steals and 3.9 deflections and is often tasked with checking opponents’ top scorers.
“He gets steals in so many ways,” Ashlaw said. “He’s a creative thief. When he wasn’t the best athlete on the court, he had to develop all types of other skills. He completes the picture of who we’re trying to be as a team.”
Roberts is embracing his new role, and his tenacious defense is contagious.
“I take pride in defense, and I feel like defense will ultimately win you games,” Roberts said. “I’m a solid guy, so you can’t push me around. It’s a lot easier than when I started on varsity. My confidence on defense is really high. I like defense more than offense.”
That’s not to say Roberts can’t also affect a game on the offensive end. He enters the weekend averaging 7.7 points and shooting 53.6% from the floor. With three established scorers — classmates Simereon Carter, Jaali Love and Carter Newsome — drawing a lot of attention from opponents, Roberts feels like scoring is well within his reach. He had 13 points in Waukegan’s 60-57 conference loss to Warren on Saturday.
“I can go out there and score,” Roberts said. “I like to spot up off the dribble, and I’m bigger than a lot of guards, so I can get downhill.”
Roberts has become so important that the Bulldogs weren’t clicking in two early wins — against Evanston and West Aurora — that he missed with an illness, according to Ashlaw.
“He shifts the energy for us when he’s in the game,” Newsome said. “He’s got great hands that can really get after balls. He’s also a great rebounder for his size.”
Roberts was particularly pleased with his efforts in Waukegan’s 78-48 road win over Johnsburg on Nov. 25.
“I really didn’t score much but went out there and played defense,” he said. “I got a bunch of steals, and after the game, everyone was upbeat. We were all really happy after the game because we played so well.”
That’s the expectation for Waukegan moving forward, and Roberts wants the good vibes he’s feeling to spread throughout the roster and the community. His grandfather Ricky Doby was a standout athlete in track and field decades ago.
“I see his picture on the wall every day,” Roberts said. “Since it’s my senior year, I feel like everything has gotten more personal. Things are starting to wind down, and that’s why it’s easy to be locked in every day. I want to be remembered.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.