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 the equivalent of it last month, when she signed to continue her career at Clemson after resentment and doubt dominated a year she described as “the weirdest ever.”
Going into last summer, Roos went from preparing to continue her basketball career in college to stocking cans for Red Bull.
She now refers to that situation “as kind of an unappealing process, but it actually worked out pretty well.”
A 6-foot-3 center who graduated in 2014, Roos appeared headed to play as a walk-on at Colorado State.
But it all started to unravel when a school counselor told Roos that the Integrated Mathematics I class she took as a freshman while at Castle View was insufficient to be recognized by the NCAA Clearinghouse. 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 problem wouldn’t go away.
“It was really unbelievable,” said Roos’ mother, Kimberly, who played for the Iowa Hawkeyes in the early 1980s. “It should have been one of the best times of (Morgan’s) life and it ended up as the most devastating.”
Roos reached out to other schools that had previously shown interest, but to no avail. And junior college 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 stay in some form of shape, was further disappointed when more than one peer seemed to enjoy watching the 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. Colorado Basketball 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 various Walmarts and King Soopers within a 70-mile radius of the Denver area. Her hours were 4 a.m. to noon.
“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 with the Tigers and recently left for school. The Tigers are excited about the sixth freshman added to the class. 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. “She comes 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 in the nation, according to ESPN. She averaged 12.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocked shots as a senior, and piled up nine double-doubles.
“She has really good footwork around the basket, great hands and is a pretty good shooter from 15 to 17 feet,” said Highlands Ranch and area club coach Caryn Jarocki. “She really didn’t take her academics 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’t take her academics as seriously as she should have, and when everything falls apart — and it will and it 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 realizes a 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 the game,” she said.
Neil H. Devlin: ndevlin@denverpost.com or
