IU basketball recruiting: Hoosiers offer Bloomington based 2023 forward JQ Roberts

Could Indiana have two Bloomington-based players on its 2023-24 roster?

That possibility increased on Wednesday when the IU coaching staff visited Bloomington North High School junior forward J.Q. Roberts at his school’s open gym and extended a scholarship offer.

Roberts reported the offer on his Twitter page.

Blessed to receive an offer from Indiana University! Thank you to Coach @MikeWoodsonNBA and @CoachDaneFife for coming to my open gym this evening! @IndianaMBB #GoHoosiers! pic.twitter.com/oni9Qq9qi2

— JaQualon “JQ” Roberts (@JQ_co2023) October 7, 2021

Roberts averaged 11.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game for the 2020-21 campaign at North. And those are numbers likely to see a big boost in the upcoming campaign. He surged over the summer for Adidas sponsored Indiana Elite, including 40 and 35 point outbursts in the final weekend against national high-end competition.

Should he end up at IU, Roberts would join fellow Bloomington native Anthony Leal, and he would become the first Bloomington North product to put on the candy stripes on a scholarship since Jared Jeffries.

A 6-foot-7 hybrid forward, Roberts has been known for his athleticism and defense, and he made strides as both a shooter and a ball handler over the last year.

Roberts is also a track star at North. He earned a state medal in the 1,600 relay as a sophomore.

North is expected to be one of the better teams in the state of Indiana in 2021-22, with Roberts starring alongside fellow Indiana Elite point guard Nick Klaiber.

Roberts has visited IU on multiple occasions over the last six weeks including for the Cincinnati football game on Sept. 18 and for Hoosier Hysteria on Saturday.

Indiana is Roberts’ first high major offer. IUPUI, Miami (Ohio), Northern Illinois, Indiana State, Stetson, Akron, Bradley and Massachusetts have all also offered scholarships. He is not currently in the national rankings for the class of 2023.