After 18 Months, Roberto Nelson Finally Eligible for Oregon State

The Oregon State Beavers have not had a lot of good news over the last couple of years. After a 14-18 season a year ago, Craig Robinson's team has started out 3-4, well on their way to another losing record.

But things are about to turn. A little bit, at least.

Roberto Nelson, a highly sought recruit in the class of 2009, will be suiting up for the first time in his career Sunday after an eighteen month eligibility battle with the NCAA. The redshirt freshman from Santa Barbara was a top 20 shooting guard in the class of 2009, but a set of unsavory circumstances guided him to Oregon State.

In his senior year of high school, his father was sent to prison and Nelson's grades slipped. Then, after being courted by Arizona, UCLA, and a host of others, Robinson sat down with Nelson for a brief visit, one that the Oregon State coach assumed to be pointless.

"I told my staff, 'we're not going to get him.' He's way too good,'' Robinson told The Oregonian. "I thought somebody like UCLA or USC or Arizona would come in and woo him and then that would be it.''

Instead, Nelson was impressed with the way in which Robinson approached him, and he became a Beaver. On Sunday, Nelson will suit up to play for the first time as a collegiate athlete.

There are some lofty expectations being laid on Nelson, including the obligatory comparison to Gary Payton, who played for the Beavers in the 80s. Nelson has been described as a guy that can score in bunches, which is perfect, because Oregon State could use some extra points.

Texas-Pan American (3-8) will visit Corvallis Sunday in Nelson's career debut.

 

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Source: http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2010/12/10/after-18-months-roberto-nelson-finally-eligible-for-oregon-stat/

Andreas Engqvist Angelo Esposito Mitch Fadden Ilari Filppula