Back home in Mr. Robinson’s neighborhood

Ex-Hightstown player ‘Most Valuable’ in Shootout

By: Kyle Moylan
   TRENTON — As one of the star players on the top rated high school basketball team in the country, Jeff Robinson is a marked man.
   Marked for greatness, that is.
   "Each year he has improved a lot," St. Patrick Coach Kevin Boyle noted of his senior standout. "He’s gone from just an athlete that could get down in transition to someone who really understands the game. Now he’s a very good defensive player, a very good post-up player and a very good outside shooter."
   Robinson is a product of the local Rec basketball leagues and was a member of Hightstown High’s varsity team for part of his freshman year before he transferred to St. Patrick. Hightstown is still a very good team without him. The Rams would be great with him.
   The lure for Robinson was obvious. This past weekend alone, St. Patrick played in the Prime Time Shootout at Villanova University on Friday and the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton on Saturday.
   "I love the schedule because we’re always playing the best teams," Robinson said.
   And Robinson has a way of stepping up his game to meet those challenges. He was picked as the Most Valuable Player in St. Patrick’s win over Chester, Pa. on Friday and in a victory over Lincoln (from New York) on Saturday.
   For Robinson, the win over Lincoln was more satisfying because a lot of family and friends were in attendance.
   "This is my home," Robinson noted after recording 30 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocked shots in St. Patrick’s 91-74 win over Lincoln. "I get an extra spark because it’s fun to come home and play."
   Robinson and the other St. Patrick players have become a traveling show. They are the best team in the land and the only way someone can take that away from them is on the court.
   Obviously, that’s easier said than done.
   Robinson put in 18 points in the first half to give St. Patrick a 40-31 lead against Lincoln at the break. When his scoring continued into the third quarter, Lincoln’s Brandon Walters landed a few elbows to see if he could get a reaction.
   "You get that sometimes," Boyle noted. "Guys try and get you off your game. The way you get people back is by beating them. Jeff has grown up as a person and become a happier kid. He knows how to control his emotions."
   According to Robinson, he’s friendly with Walters off the court and his pal was doing a lot of trash talking that night. When the elbows followed, Robinson just had a few words of advice.
   "I told him not to jump when I get the ball down low because I’m going to dunk on you," Robinson said.
   And the dunk was quite impressive.
   "I told him ‘I said not to jump. I was going to get you’," Robinson smiled.
   The poise and talent to react like this has earned Robinson a scholarship to play at Memphis University. Robinson chose that school because he likes the team’s "run and gun" style of play. That guarantees Robinson at least four more seasons of basketball excellence to follow this one.
   Even off the court, it’s hard to miss Robinson. He’s appeared in numerous papers and magazines across the country. His team’s games are often televised and/or in arenas. And little kids chase after him for autographs.
   "Signing the autographs makes the kids happy, so it’s good," Robinson said. "It’s all good."
   Robinson has embraced the total package. And his game is quickly become the total package as well.
   When NBA player Dajuan Wagner was coming on the floor after the St. Patrick-Lincoln game, he made a point of going over and shaking Robinson’s hand. "Jeff Robinson" is a name the basketball world knows and may continue to focus on for quite some time.
   "I would not be surprised if in five years he was still playing," Boyle said. "He just keeps getting better and better."