Thursday, November 13, 2008
It’s fitting that Thomas Robinson, a 6-foot-8 power forward from Washington, D.C., became the first recruit to sign a letter of intent with Kansas Wednesday on national signing day.
Robinson, whom Rivals.com ranks as the No. 18 player in the country, was eager to sign with Kansas from the beginning. Kansas coach Bill Self realized it during a conversation he shared with Robinson while the recruit was on his official visit to Kansas during the national championship ring ceremony.
Self explained Kansas’ scholarship situation to the three recruits in town that weekend. Kansas only has three available scholarships for the upcoming class. Self told Robinson he planned only to sign one big man in the class.
“One of his responses to me was, ‘well, I don’t have to commit by Sunday, do I,?” Self said.
“No,” Self responded with a laugh. “You don’t have to commit by Sunday.”
But he was ready to. Self said the only reason Robinson didn’t orally commit immediately after the trip was because his mother wanted him to take some time to think his decision over. Self was fine with that idea.
Robinson took one extra trip to Memphis and then decided. He wanted to be a Jayhawk. It felt like home. The togetherness of the team stood out to Robinson.
“Anything you do with one of them,” Robinson said after he verbally committed, “you’re with the rest of them.”
Kansas assistant coach Joe Dooley received Robinson’s official letter of intent around 12:30 Wednesday afternoon. Robinson was the only Kansas recruit to sign his letter on signing day.
Elijah Johnson, a Las Vegas point guard and Rivals.com’s No. 27-ranked player, has also verbally committed to the Jayhawks. Johnson, however, will not sign his letter until Monday because of scheduling conflicts with his signing ceremony.
Self is only allowed to comment on players who have already committed under NCAA rules. He had plenty to say about Robinson.
“He’s a rebounder. He goes after every loose ball,” Self said. “He’s a high energy guy with a motor. He probably has as good a motor as anyone we’ve recruited since we’ve been here.”
Robinson is Self’s first five-star commit since Sherron Collins and Darrell Arthur picked Kansas in 2006. Self briefly compared Robinson to Arthur before concluding Arthur was more of a scorer out of high school while Robinson is more of a rebounder.
He continued to think of players to compare Robinson to. One might surprise Kansas fans.
“I’m not saying he’s Tyler Hansbrough,” Self said. “But he competes, he goes after the ball like Tyler does.”
Kansas’ remaining targets include Xavier Henry, an Oklahoma City shooting guard who is ranked as the No. 3 player in the nation, and Michael Snaer, a Moreno Valley, Calif. shooting guard who is ranked as the No. 11 player in the nation. Snaer is choosing between Kansas, Florida State and Marquette. Henry is deciding between Kansas and Memphis. Snaer and Henry have both delayed their decisions, but they could be coming soon.
Rivals.com ranks Kansas’ recruiting class as No. 4 in the nation with Robinson and Johnson.
“Hopefully, it will be better than that when it’s all said and done,” Self said.
— - Edited by Scott Toland
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