Coach Bill Self had asked the same question hundreds of times to hundreds of players, but he had never heard an answer quite like Russell Robinson’s.
“I asked him what his goals were this year, and I’ve never heard anyone say it, but he said, ‘My goal is that I’m a sophomore by December,'” Self said. “What he meant was obviously that he understands and has a feel for everything going on and has gotten through the freshman things. That’s a pretty good goal for a guard.”
The Jayhawks will need Robinson to grow up quickly, as the 6-foot-1 point guard represents the most likely backup for senior Aaron Miles.
Robinson said his self-made goal would be the driving force in early-season workouts.
“I’m going to use that as my motivation,” Robinson said. “That’s going to motivate me every day in practice and every day in Canada. I’ll just try not to let coach down.”
Self won’t be let down if Robinson can give Miles even a few minutes of rest at the point-guard position.
In last year’s 79-71 NCAA Tournament loss to Georgia Tech, Miles played 43 of the 45 minutes, wearing down late in the game.
Robinson said he could give Miles a much-needed break.
“If I can help this team,” Robinson said, “I think he’d be glad to give up some of his playing time.”
Not only will he attempt to give Miles some rest, he will also try to work toward the starting position for next year’s team.
His teammate is helping him out.
“I’ll just try to be a positive influence on him,” Miles said, “because when a couple of us seniors are gone, he’s going to be a leader.”
Robinson will have to win the backup point-guard position over junior guard Jeff Hawkins and sophomores Nick Bahe and Jeremy Case, but Self has pointed him out as the early favorite.
“I think there will be some competition for Russell,” Self said, “but I also think he’s got a chance to be a really good guard here at Kansas.”
From Rice High School in New York City, Robinson will look to renew an East Coast interest in the Jayhawk program.
Former Kansas coach Roy Williams recruited sparingly east of the Mississippi River to avoid competing against schools such as Kentucky, Duke and North Carolina for potential players.
Self did not put a border on his recruiting territory and brought in two players from the East Coast.
Robinson’s new teammate, freshman forward Alex Galindo, played high school ball at St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, N.J.
Robinson, however, is the first Kansas player since Terry Brown in 1990 to come from the state of New York.
“I’m just trying to start a trend, and hopefully more East Coast players will come,” Robinson said. “I just want to start winning championships and try to be the best player I can be here at KU.”
At first reluctant to make the long trip to the Midwest, Robinson said he has started to adjust to life in Kansas.
“I’ve found out that people here are really friendly,” Robinson said. “In the time that I’ve been here, I’ve just tried to fit in the best that I can.”
In trying to fit in, Robinson will also try to fill a large role on the Kansas basketball team. A daunting task for a freshman, so Robinson looks forward to becoming a sophomore – by December.
