Morgan Roos bound for Clemson basketball after tough year

Rock Canyon Morgan Roos, center, and the teammates are watching scoreboard in the second halfof the game against Denver East at East High School in Denver, CO. on Saturday, February 25,2012. Denver East won 55-53. Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post (THE DENVER POST | HyoungChang)

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CASTLE PINES -- Morgan Roos' mother suggested she play the lottery, but there's really no need.

The former basketball player at Rock Canyon High School in Highlands Ranch already won theequivalent of it last month, when she signed to continue her career at Clemson after resentment anddoubt dominated a year she described as "the weirdest ever."

Going into last summer, Roos went from preparing to continue her basketball career in college tostocking cans for Red Bull.

She now refers to that situation "as kind of an unappealing process, but it actually worked out prettywell."

A 6-foot-3 center who graduated in 2014, Roos appeared headed to play as a walk-on at ColoradoState.

But it all started to unravel when a school counselor told Roos that the Integrated Mathematics Iclass she took as a freshman while at Castle View was insufficient to be recognized by the NCAAClearinghouse. She was informed of it July 18 last year and her appeal was denied Aug. 2.

"It made no sense," Roos said.

Her 2.5 grade-point average and 22 ACT score were enough to qualify, but the math problemwouldn't go away.

"It was really unbelievable," said Roos' mother, Kimberly, who played for the Iowa Hawkeyes in theearly 1980s. "It should have been one of the best times of (Morgan's) life and it ended up as the mostdevastating."

Roos reached out to other schools that had previously shown interest, but to no avail. And juniorcollege was not a viable option Roos wanted.

Roos got lost in the shuffle.

To make matters worse, Roos, who said she tried to find pickup games at recreation centers to stayin some form of shape, was further disappointed when more than one peer seemed to enjoy watchingthe next step in her career fizzle.

"Kids can be so mean," she said.

The one supporter, Roos said, was Texas' Diani Akigbogun. The Denver Post two-time Ms. ColoradoBasketball while at Regis Jesuit in Aurora offered encouragement.

And then there was Roos' job. She was classified as a merchandiser for Red Bull, traveling to variousWalmarts and King Soopers within a 70-mile radius of the Denver area. Her hours were 4 a.m. tonoon.

"It's a glamorous life," Roos said. "It's a fun job ... actually, it's not."

Finally, things turned in Roos' favor. Clemson coach Audra Smith called. Roos signed May 20 withthe Tigers and recently left for school. The Tigers are excited about the sixth freshman added to theclass. They will be one of the nation's youngest teams.

"We are very fortunate to add Morgan to the Clemson family," Smith said in a news release. "Shecomes from a great basketball family, and is a wonderful young woman, on and off the court. At 6-3,

her size has the potential to impact us right away, and we look forward to her getting to campus."

A three-star prospect coming out of Rock Canyon, Roos was listed as the 66th-best post prospect inthe nation, according to ESPN. She averaged 12.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocked shots as asenior, and piled up nine double-doubles.

"She has really good footwork around the basket, great hands and is a pretty good shooter from 15to 17 feet," said Highlands Ranch and area club coach Caryn Jarocki. "She really didn't take heracademics as seriously as she should have and it got her into trouble.

"But I think it has taught her a lot of lessons and I'm happy she's going to college."

The biggest thing, Kimberly Roos said, "is Morgan was about basketball in high school and didn'ttake her academics as seriously as she should have, and when everything falls apart -- and it will andit can -- don't give up, don't lose hope."

The younger Roos said she hasn't. After what she said turned out to be a taxing odyssey, she realizesa great opportunity is right in front of her.

"I don't have any doubt after sitting out that I have hope, new drive and an appreciation for thegame," she said.

Neil H. Devlin: ndevlin@denverpost.com or twitter.com/neildevlin

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