“Arkansas baseball commit” seems to precede any mention of Hudson Roberts. But the Ozark junior has created a stronger legacy on the hardwood than the ball diamond to this point in his Tigers career and he isn’t dismissing the possibility of shooting hoops at the next level.
Roberts received an offer from Arkansas during the summer prior to his sophomore year and he immediately committed to the Razorbacks.
Since then, he’s emerged as one of the best guards in SWMO. He was named to the All-COC First Team after averaging 16.1 points a game as a sophomore last season and is reaching 20 points a game regularly this season.
“I definitely think I’ve had more success in basketball,” Roberts said when comparing his resume for the Tigers in basketball and baseball.
“I love basketball just as much baseball,” he added. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to play this game. I love baseball and basketball. I can’t pick between the two.”
All along, though, Roberts has worked toward an end-goal of playing baseball in college because he feels he has more upside in baseball than basketball.
“My Dad wanted me to go to college for basketball, that’s always been his dream,” Roberts said of his father, Brent, who played as a prep at West Plains. “He’s been training me since I was a little kid and basketball is his love. He got me into basketball first. But I’ve never seen a huge future in it. Baseball is what I see my future in.”
Roberts received his offer from Arkansas shortly before the NCAA passed its current mandate which states college coaches, with the exception of football coaches, cannot contact preps until Jan. 1 of their sophomore year.
Roberts has stayed in touch with the Razorbacks over the past year.
“We talk a little bit, but not too much. I’m staying ready,” he said.
Roberts is well aware things can change rapidly in today’s college recruiting world and knows verbal offers and verbal commitments are hardly binding. Thus, he would be open-minded to exchanging recruiting rapport with college basketball coaches to possibly give himself options.
"I would listen,” Roberts said. “I’m not going to ignore (college basketball coaches). If something happens, I wouldn’t be opposed to going to college for basketball. I’m not going to give up on (basketball) and I’m obviously not going to give up on baseball. Wherever God takes me.”
