'Give Us A Chance'

Nate Roberts brings versatility to Washington // By Mason Kelley

By Washington Huskies

February 19^th, 2019

Nate Roberts was watching.

Mike Hopkins had just been introduced as Washington’s head coach and Roberts wanted to say congratulations. At the time, the 6-foot-10 big man had yet to pare down his list of colleges, but he knew the coach.

He wanted to maintain the relationship.

During the call, Hopkins left the four-star prospect with a simple message: “Give us a chance,” the coach said.

When Roberts received his scholarship offer, the message was delivered again: “Give us a chance.”

And when the Huskies landed on his final list of schools: “Give us a chance.”

The sales pitch worked.

“I gave them a chance,” Roberts said. “It all worked out and now I’m here.”

Roberts is the most recent recruit to make the 3,000-mile trip to join the Huskies. He believed the program provided the best opportunity for him to grow as both a person and player.

“So far it’s been really good,” he said. “I love the environment, love the school, love the team, the coaches. It’s very family-oriented. As soon as I came on my visit, I noticed how close everyone was. I knew this was the place I needed to be to grow as a person and basketball player.”

As a high school standout at Brewster Academy, Roberts was accustomed to playing against Division I-caliber talent. That continues at Washington with a roster full of talented big men to help him sharpen his skills.

“There are three or four bigs that are just as elite as you are, helping you get better every day,” he said. “It’s definitely a battle.”

Roberts has been playing basketball since he was 6.

“It’s always been my first love,” he said.

He was always the tallest kid on every team and in each class growing up. But when he got to high school, he hit a growth spurt, going from 6-foot-3 to 6-8 in one year.

But, as talented as he is on a basketball court, he wants to be known as more than a hooper.

“Basketball is a passion of mine, but it’s about more than just basketball,” he said.

Then he laughed. “I’m a man of many talents,” he said.

He was into music growing up, playing the drums, trumpet, clarinet and saxophone. He even dabbled in the piano. He is also an artist with a penchant for graffiti, but “I could draw anything if I really wanted to,” he said.

His hobbies are creative, but he also thinks about life after basketball. He thought for a while he wanted to become the CEO of a brand, but decided he wants to help people, so he plans to study psychology.

“Everybody needs that one person they can go to, vent to and help them figure out their problems,” he said.

Roberts said he has been helping people for as long as he can remember, so becoming a psychologist wouldn’t seem much like work.

His versatility off the floor is much like his game. Despite always being tall, he made sure to develop a wide-ranging skill set.

“I try to do different things to affect the game in different ways,” he said. “That’s been my niche ever since I started taking basketball seriously, so being well-rounded in the game comes naturally.”

Roberts said basketball players from D.C. are known for playing a gritty style, for being “dogs, and just going out there and getting it.” The big man embraces that mentality, but also has a little West Coast flash to his game.

“It’s a great mix,” he said.

Being in Seattle has provided a change of pace for Roberts.

“There’s a different vibe in the city,” he said. “People are a lot nicer, a lot more welcoming, but I’m proud to be from D.C. I rep the 202 everywhere I go.”