Terry Roberts reunites with former teammate, brings veteran leadership at point for Georgia

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Georgia guard Terry Roberts was a common topic of conversation on Wednesday at SEC Basketball Media Day with Bulldog coach Mike White along with a pair of players, Kario Oquendo and Braelen Bridges, representing the team in Birmingham. Why you might ask? Well first of all he’s one of nine newcomers for fans to get to know. And furthermore, Oquendo, who was Georgia’s leading scorer last season is excited about the potential provided by reuniting with his former JUCO teammate.

“He’s going to be pretty good. I’m gonna tell y’all that,” Oquendo said about Roberts. “That’s all I’m going to say. He’s going to be pretty good.”

Roberts transfers in to Georgia after spending last season at Bradley. There he started all 31 games for the Braves and led the team in scoring (14.5), assists (4.1) and steals (1.6) per game. Roberts posted 24 double-figure scoring games featuring six 20-point scoring outbursts and two double-digit rebounding performances, both of which led to double-doubles that game. He was named Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Year and a First-Team All-MVC, the first Bradley player to do so in 11 seasons.

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Before that though, he and Oquendo spent time together at Florida SouthWestern College coached by Eric Murphey. Oquendo was named First-Team All-Southern Conference averaging 13.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 22.2 minutes of playing time per game. Roberts was also a First-Team All-Southern selection as they helped the Buccaneers to an 18-5 overall record and a 9-3 mark in Southern Conference play, being ranked the nation’s No. 1 JUCO team in the country at one point in his career.

“Terry brings veteran leadership as a point guard. I always feel comfortable when he’s on the court,” Oquendo said. “I feel like he’s an extension of the coaches on the court. He’s a hard nosed point guard. He plays defense. So he just brings a great aspect to the team.”

“I think just being reunited with anybody, it’s like I’m being reunited with my brother,” he added. After a couple of years not being able to see him, he went to a different school and then ultimately we came back together. Getting that relationship back is good … I think it’s even more there. Since junior college as a player, he’s gotten better and I’ve obviously gotten a lot better. The relationship is still there. He can do a lot more things. I can do a lot more things.”

Of course Roberts still has to win a starting job, same as Oquendo. However, new Georgia head coach Mike White certainly likes where things are at with his veteran option at the point.

“He’s ultra competitive. He plays with a lot of emotion, but he’s got to channel that. He can be emotional, but he’s got some leadership qualities, too. Folks tend to follow him a little bit, which is good, but he’s got to maintain his composure, whether he’s going through it or whether the opposing team is on a 5-0 run in practice,” White said. “He’s a guy who’s learning how to lead at this level, and also produce at this level. He’s got a lot of responsibility. He can play a couple of positions for us, obviously he is a point guard by nature. He’s a really good on ball defender, learning off the ball and growing in that department. Offensively, he’s probably our best passer, along with Justin Hill. He’s a guy who can score a little bit, too.”

“There’s some chemistry there. Those guys — Terry will bark at you. Kario’s a little bit more of a reserved guy, and I think that Terry’s been good for him,” White added on the pre-existing relationship between Roberts and Oquendo. “But I’m sure in ways that I’m not even aware of Kario’s been good for Terry’s transition as well.”

Georgia officially tips off basketball season on November 7th with a home game against Western Carolina to open up the new regime. Mike White is working with a group of Bulldogs that will be fresh faces even to UGA fans with nine newcomers and just five returnees on the roster.