Breaking News

Thomas Robinson, five-star power forward, orally commits to KU

By Case Keefer

Monday, October 13, 2008

Thomas Robinson didn’t bond with any single player during his official visit to Kansas last month.

He didn’t feel an undeniable connection with a specific coach, either. And that’s what he loved about it.

“Anything you do with one of them,” Robinson said, “you’re with the rest of them.”

Robinson, a five-star power forward recruit from Washington, D.C., became the first player to orally commit to Kansas from the class of 2009. He said the togetherness of everyone in the program was the main reason he selected Kansas over Memphis, which he had pegged as his other finalist.

He informed Kansas coach Bill Self of his decision late Thursday night. Robinson, whom rivals.com ranks as the 18th best player in the nation, is the first five-star commit for the Jayhawks since Darrell Arthur and Sherron Collins chose them in 2006. Robinson knows exactly why he’s such a highly touted player.

“Rebounding,” Robinson said.

The one-word answer works. Robinson averaged 13 rebounds per game during his junior season in high school at Riverdale Baptist just outside of Washington, D.C.

Robinson has transferred to Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H., to polish the rest of his game for his senior season. The rebounding, well, it’s still going to be his strength.

Just ask the people who have followed him. Shay Wildeboor, a recruiting expert and jayhawkslant.com senior editor, said Robinson was elite at grabbing boards.

“To be honest with you, he’s probably the top rebounder in his class,” Wildeboor said. “He’s got a motor that never stops.”

Wildeboor said Robinson was barely a top-100 player when rivals.com first released their recruiting ranking. Robinson, however, impressed scouts and coaches throughout the spring and summer in amateur tournaments.

He jumped all the way to the No. 18 ranked player in the country. Kansas, Memphis, Miami and Southern California all offered him scholarships according to rivals.com.

After narrowing his options down to Kansas and Memphis, Robinson visited both campuses a few weeks ago. His trip to Lawrence, which included attending the national championship ring ceremony, stuck out.

“The ring ceremony was definitely great,” Robinson said, “but it didn’t have much impact on my decision.”

Nope, the only reason Robinson gave for his commitment was the feeling of family within the Jayhawk basketball program.

Robinson hasn’t given much thought to what he hopes to accomplish as a Jayhawk. He says he wants to excel in school and get a degree — and do one other thing.

“I also hopefully will win a championship,” Robinson said. “A national championship.”

WHAT ROBINSON MEANS TO OTHER RECRUITS

With the commitment of Robinson, Self is down to only two available scholarships to spend on the class of 2009. At least seven top 25 recruits will be in Lawrence for this weekend’s Late Night in the Phog.

Headlining the list of targets for Self are John Wall, a point guard and No. 1 ranked player in the nation, and Xavier Henry, a shooting guard and No. 3 ranked player. Both Wall and Henry have said they are deciding between Kansas and Memphis — the same situation Robinson was in.

DARRELL ARTHUR INVESTIGATION

RE-OPENED

The Dallas Independent School District has re-opened its investigation into the Darrell Arthur grade-changing scandal.

WFAA-TV aired a story in May reporting Arthur had failed classes while at South Oak Cliff High School in Dallas, but the grades were changed to passing.

The school district investigated the claim this summer and absolved the high school of any wrongdoing in August. WFAA-TV, however, kept investigating and found holes in DISD’s investigation, which forced it to look back into the situation.

BARRY HINSON JOINS KANSAS STAFF

Kansas Athletics Director Lew Perkins confirmed the hiring of former Missouri State coach Barry Hinson Friday in a statement.

Hinson will join Kansas as the men’s basketball director of external relations. His duties will include heading fundraising initiatives and connecting with former players.

Hinson coached at Missouri State for nine years and won three Missouri Valley Conference championships. He also played college basketball with Self at Oklahoma State and coached with him at Oral Roberts.

— — Edited by Ramsey Cox

Comments

khayes (Kelsey Hayes) says...

Dammit, Case, I thought you wrote earlier that there were three scholarships IN ADDITION to Robinson, not INCLUDING him.

October 14, 2008 at 12:07 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Advertisement