In her biweekly column, “State of the Territory,” former Sen. Janelle K. Sarauw delves deeper into issues of concern for V.I. residents.
He stood under the bright lights of the NCAA Final Four — not as a spectator, not as a footnote, but as a force. A starter. A leader. A contender. And most importantly, as one of ours.
J’Wan Roberts, born and raised on the island of St. Thomas, has done what so many young Virgin Islanders dream of but so few get the chance to realize. He didn’t just make it out – he made it all the way. From the Caribbean to the national stage. From a small island to a massive arena. From being unseen to becoming unforgettable.
His appearance in the 2025 NCAA Final Four is not just another athlete reaching a goal — it is a historic, cultural moment for the Virgin Islands. Because when J’Wan Roberts took that court in a nationally televised, high-pressure Final Four matchup, he brought the Virgin Islands with him. All 32 square miles of home. All the memories, the struggle, the sacrifices. He became a living symbol of what it means to come from a place often left off the map but never lacking in heart.
At just 15, J’Wan made a decision that would change everything. Leaving behind the familiar rhythms of island life – where the beach was his sanctuary and basketball was played for passion, not platforms – he moved to Texas in search of better exposure. No headlines. No elite travel ball resume. Just the steady, humble presence of a young man with unrelenting work ethic and a vision bigger than what surrounded him.
He adjusted to the new system, to structured play, to the expectations of mainland competition. And he didn’t just survive it – he grew. Into a standout. Into the winningest player in University of Houston history. Into a back-to-back Big 12 champion. Into one of only four players in school history to reach 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. That isn’t luck. That’s labor. That’s discipline. That’s the Virgin Islands spirit – wrapped in determination, wrapped in humility, wrapped in a quiet confidence that comes from knowing exactly where you come from.
But this isn’t just J’Wan’s story – it’s ours. It belongs to the Virgin Islands. It belongs to every young athlete dribbling on a dusty court with a broken rim. It belongs to every coach scraping together money for uniforms and travel. It belongs to every parent who sees potential in their child but doesn’t know where to turn to nurture it. It belongs to us, and it should make us ask ourselves a hard question:
Why did he have to leave home to be seen?
Because while we are quick to celebrate our athletes after they’ve made it, we must reckon with how often we fail to support them before they do. J’Wan’s journey is exceptional – but it should not have to be an exception. He should not have had to cross an ocean for opportunity. We should have created that opportunity right here. On our soil. In our schools. Through sustained, strategic investment.
This is not just about facilities – though we need better ones. It’s not just about funding – though that’s critical too. It’s about building a culture that recognizes athletic development as part of our future. That sees sports not as extracurricular, but as transformational. That creates pipelines from playgrounds to college campuses and beyond. That honors the work ethic of our young people by meeting it with infrastructure, mentorship, and real support.
J’Wan Roberts is the embodiment of what can happen when raw talent meets real opportunity. He is a walking, rebounding, shot-blocking reminder that excellence grows in the Caribbean. But we cannot keep asking our youth to navigate this journey alone. Not when we have the talent. Not when we have the legacy. Not when we know what’s possible.
His story is a celebration. But it is also a call. A challenge. A charge to every policymaker, every educator, every leader, every neighbor. To invest. To advocate. To show up before the headlines. To recognize that greatness doesn’t always look like what the outside world expects. Sometimes, it looks like a young man from St. Thomas with no AAU resume and no sponsors, who still finds his way to the Final Four.
So yes, I salute J’Wan. I thank his family for their sacrifices. I thank his coaches for believing in him. I thank his foundation for pouring back into the community that shaped him. But more than anything, I thank J’Wan for holding the banner high – for proving that we can compete, that we belong, that our smallness is never a limitation.
The next generation is watching. Let’s make sure they don’t have to leave home to be seen.
Let’s build something worthy of the talent that’s already here.
Editor’s Note: Opinion articles do not represent the views of the Virgin Islands Source newsroom and are the sole expressed opinion of the writer. Submissions can be made to visource@gmail.com.
