by Jeff Goodman

"I kept waking up and saying, 'Six weeks, right,?' Roe said. "I knew the answer, but I couldn't believe it."

That's because Roe hasn't played a competitive game since the opener of his senior season in high school at St. Edward (Ohio) last December.

Today was supposed to be the final day of his nine-month rehab on his right knee following microfracture surgery. Instead, he's still got a couple more weeks on the mend after his left knee began swelling — which prompted another exploratory surgery earlier this month.

Roe was at one time considered a lock McDonald's All-American, maybe even a guy who could make a case to rival Greg Monroe or Demar DeRozan as the top player in the Class of 2008.

Now he's hoping people remember him again.

"I'm going to have a chip on my shoulder again, like when I was a sophomore and was trying to get on the map," Roe said. "I like when people doubt what I can do."

Roe could be the missing piece to Michigan State making another Final Four appearance. The Spartans got smacked in the Sweet 16 by Memphis' more physical guards a year ago, but the Tigers and many of the elite teams lost key pieces. Michigan State watched Drew Neitzel graduate, but the gritty guard had a subpar season and shouldn't be too hard to replace.

Tom Izzo still has Travis Walton as a leader in the backcourt and Kalin Lucas has established himself as one of the top point guards in the country despite having just one year under his belt. Chris Allen is healthy and could provide the big guard the Spartans desperately need.

The frontcourt took a hit with Drew Naymick leaving, but Roe should come in and make an immediate impact with his athleticism. This could allow Izzo plenty of versatility on the frontline — including the potential of teaming long and athletic forwards Raymar Morgan and Roe together.

Roe is off crutches now and is hoping to be cleared to play in the next couple of weeks. The last time he got on the court, he put up a triple-double despite suffering a major knee injury in pre-game warmups.

"My right knee feels great now," Roe said. "It's 100 percent."

Delvon Roe was worried a devastating injury he suffered in high school might keep him out for his freshman season at Michigan State. (InsideCarolina/Jim Hawkins / Special to FOXSports.com)

Now Roe will try and make up for lost time. His dream was to play in the McDonald's Game, but he wasn't eligible since he missed nearly his entire senior season.

In the last nine months, Roe has focused on improving the three areas he and others considered weaknesses.

He's added about 15 pounds of muscle and is up to 230, he's improved his perimeter shot and has also worked endlessly on dribbling with his right hand.

"People don't know about me any more," Roe said. "I've fallen off the map, but I like that. I like people not knowing that I can still play. That's what drives me every day."

Roe was admittedly nervous prior to his most recent surgery. The doctors had told him there was the best-case scenario of six weeks or a worst-case one in which he'd miss his entire freshman season in East Lansing.

"Those were the toughest three days of my life, not knowing if I'd be able to play at all this year," Roe said.

Roe will head to his first day of classes on Monday without being fully cleared quite yet, but isn't overly concerned ... as long as he's able to take the court in this year's season opener without excruciating pain.

"I'm going to come back with a vengeance," Roe said.