J'Wan Roberts

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = J'Wan Roberts

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| number = 13

| position = Forward

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 8

| weight_lbs = 235

| league = Big 12 Conference

| team = Houston Cougars

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|9|19}}

| birth_place = Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

| nationality = American

| high_school = Shoemaker
(Killeen, Texas)

| college = Houston (2020–2025)

| highlights =

First-team All-Big 12 (2025)
Third-team All-Big 12 (2024)
Big 12 All-Defensive Team (2025)
Second-team All-AAC (2023)
AAC Most Improved Player (2023)

}}

J'Wan Andone Roberts (born September 19, 2001) is an American college basketball player for the Houston Cougars of the Big 12 Conference.

Early life and high school career

Roberts was born and raised in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.{{Cite web |last=Baldwin |first=Chris |date=2022-02-26 |title=Island Fierce — J'Wan Roberts' Unusual Origin Story Masks a Rebounding Savant, Giving Up Beach Life for Sampson Time |url=https://www.papercitymag.com/culture/jwan-roberts-houston-basketball-rebounds-virgin-islands/ |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=PaperCity Magazine |language=en-US}} After completing the 8th grade, he moved to the United States to live with his aunt in Killeen, Texas, in order to pursue a basketball career and increase his exposure to scouts.{{Cite web |last=Mueller |first=James |date=2023-01-31 |title=After years of ‘selflessness,’ J’Wan Roberts’ time is here |url=http://thedailycougar.com/2023/01/31/after-years-of-selflessness-jwan-roberts-time-is-here/ |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=The Cougar |language=en-US}} Houston coach Kelvin Sampson first noticed Roberts in 2017 while scouting another player at an exhibition game in Las Vegas. Sampson began tracking Roberts' career and following a strong junior season at Shoemaker High School, offered him a scholarship. Following an official visit, Roberts committed to the University of Houston on September 2, 2018.{{Cite web |title=J'Wan Roberts commits to Houston Cougars |url=https://www.thehrr.com/NCAAM/News_and_info/2018/9/2_JWan_Roberts_commits_to_Coogs.html |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=www.thehrr.com}}

College career

Roberts redshirted during the 2019–20 season. In 2020–21, he began to receive playing time while Fabian White Jr. was injured. Following White's return from injury, Roberts received less playing time as the Cougars made a run to the Final Four.{{Cite web |last=Duarte |first=Joseph |date=2023-02-24 |title=For Houston's J'Wan Roberts, waiting his turn pays off big time this season |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/college/article/jwan-roberts-houston-cougars-basketball-17804602.php |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=Houston Chronicle |language=en-US}} Roberts emerged as a key player off the bench for the Cougars in 2021–22, establishing himself as one of the team's top rebounders. In 2022–23, Roberts' play continued to improve, and he was named a starter. Along with becoming a leader in the locker room, he helped Houston achieve their first AP Poll #1 ranking since 1983, garnering praise from former Cougar Hakeem Olajuwon.{{Cite web |last=Mueller |first=James |date=2022-10-18 |title=‘The perfect teammate’: J’Wan Roberts’ mentorship of Jarace Walker |url=http://thedailycougar.com/2022/10/18/perfect-teammate-jwan-roberts-mentorship-jarace-walker/ |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=The Cougar |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Baldwin |first=Chris |date=2023-01-02 |title=J'Wan Roberts Impresses Hakeem Olajuwon, Shows Why Kelvin Sampson's UH Player Development System Is the Best In College Basketball |url=https://www.papercitymag.com/culture/jwan-roberts-impresses-hakeem-olajuwon-shows-kelvin-sampson-player-development/ |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=PaperCity Magazine |language=en-US}}

Due to NCAA rules on granting a bonus year of eligibility for all student-athletes impacted by COVID during the 2020-21 season, Roberts had the chance to play for a fifth season with the 2024-25 season. During the year, he became the fourth player (Elvin Hayes, Hakeem Olajuwon, Cadillac Anderson) with 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 points in program history.https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/jwan-roberts-uhs-winningest-player-chases-title-as-final-stretch-begins/article_971acd40-0030-11f0-ba7f-6b6b27313845.html