Men's Basketball | 11/9/2025 7:05:00 PM

Former Saint Francis men's basketball player Jason Roberts passed away at age 52 last week. A Jim Baron recruit, Roberts played all four years under Tom McConnell and finished his career with 1,035 career points, 427 rebounds, 248 assists, and 196 steals. The steals are the second most in program history, while he was the 34th player in program history to eclipse the 1,000-point mark, which now includes 43 players.

"I was blessed beyond words to be his coach," said Tom McConnell in an article published in the Patriot News. "He was a fierce competitor, and he was a skilled guard. He loved to play, practice, and compete. He made everyone around him better."

He established a single-game program record with eight steals against UNC Greensboro on January 2, 1996. Roberts posted a career-high 34 points in an 85-72 win at Monmouth on February 8, 1996, for the first victory in West Long Branch since the 1990-91 season. Roberts hauled in a career-high 12 rebounds against Robert Morris (January 18, 1994) and a personal-best nine assists against Delaware State (December 3, 1994). He also had 14 points against the Colonials for his first career double-double.

Roberts, a member of the NEC All-Newcomer Team,  helped the Red Flash to three wins in the NEC Tournament in his last three seasons. The first two were opening-round wins, and in his senior year the team finished 11-7 in league play. Saint Francis defeated No. 4 seed Rider 84-70 in the NEC Quarterfinals, which was the Loretto program's last tournament win until 2013-14.

Roberts, a native of Steelton, Pa., graduated from Sheelton-Highspire and helped his team to the 1992 Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Athletic Association (PIAA) District III title and the AAAA state championship. He was named to the all-Mid-Penn Conference team and posted 533 points, 196 steals, 378 rebounds, and 267 assists in high school.

He leaves behind a son (Brycen) and two daughters (Cierra and Sophia).

"I always used to say that there are some people who are human medicine," said McConnell. You just feel better after being with them. And Jason was that kind of person."