EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Kalin Lucas threw lobs up to Delvon Roe with the assumption that he could grab and slam.
And why shouldn't he be able to? That was Roe's game at St. Edward High in Lakewood, Ohio.
But that was before he suffered a season-ending injury to his right knee at the start of his senior year in high school, which forced him to undergo microfracture surgery.
"I tried to throw it up for him, but he couldn't jump," Lucas said. "Now I know he's going to catch it."
"It was tough," Roe said. "You come in as a top recruit and expect to make a big impact and then you can't work on your game as much as you want. You're limited and basically you're playing your senior year in high school in college basketball. I had to learn how to play defense, handle everything. It was very frustrating."
The rehab was exhausting. Roe said it wasn't the pain as much as it was the weakness.
"I had no ability to jump," Roe said. "You take a player like me, who is athletic and who needs to play above the rim, and I had to learn how to play different aspects of the game. I had no explosion in my knee. My leg muscles were weak down there, and I couldn't do it. I had to spend a lot of time with the strength and conditioning coach.
"It was very frustrating. It was like I was a whole different person. I spent my whole life jumping and dunking above the rim and the next thing you know I'm getting rebounds below the rim. It's tough to do in my position."
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo was in attendance at the game in which Roe was hurt. As the rest of the Class of 2008 got pub, Roe was shelved. He was a first-team high school All-American who was a 22.5-point, 11.5-rebound a game producer.
But when Roe got to Michigan State he was a shell of his former self, with limited minutes for most of the season. He averaged 17.9 minutes and produced 5.6 points and 5.2 boards.
"I feel bad that the fans really haven't seen him," Izzo said. "They're going to now. He was a kid who loves to play. He was dreaming his whole life for this, and it's going to take a little bit of time to get that athleticism back."
Izzo doesn't let up on Roe. He was pushing him hard in practice, ensuring that he maximizes his talent on his repaired knee.
"If we get him back to the guy we recruited, then I'm sure he'll make our team better," Izzo said. "He can pass, score, rebound and defend."
While Izzo does fret about the absence of Goran Suton and Idong Ibok in the middle, he's getting quite an upgrade with a healthy Roe.
"Man, he looks way better," Lucas said. "He's running way better and jumping. We're going to be way better with him."
Lucas said freshmen big men Tom Herzog and Derrick Nix need only to rebound, run and play defense. The same is true of returning role player Draymond Green.
With the Nov. 13 season opener fast approaching, though, the Spartans are dealing with some injuries, including a concussion suffered by Roe during Sunday's exhibition game. In addition, Raymar Morgan sprained his ankle in a practice last week and has been getting it treated several times a day.
But those aren't injuries that should linger. If they can stay healthy, the combination of Roe next to Morgan in the frontcourt will be one of the main reasons MSU competes for the Final Four.
The backcourt is loaded with Lucas, Chris Allen, Durrell Summers and Korie Lucious.
But Roe could be the difference. He's a player that can go for major numbers, which the Spartans didn't have last season.
Well, they had him, but he wasn't himself.
"It's really hard to cover us with him running down the middle," Morgan said. "He rebounds, scores inside and gives us another dimension."
Roe went against classmates Devin Ebanks (West Virginia), Samardo Samuels (Louisville) and Ed Davis (North Carolina) on the high school/summer circuit. All have had plenty of hype while Roe rehabbed.
"I think about that every day, and it helps keep me focused [and] drive me back to be what I was in high school and even better," Roe said of the sudden lack of fame. "That's what happens. You have to be on top of your game or it slips away. You can be easily forgotten."
If Roe continues to gain strength, he will be remembered in March.
Andy Katz
