The speculation is over, and it's official: Jaxson Robinson has pulled his name from the NBA Draft and will follow Mark Pope to Kentucky.
BREAKING: BYU transfer Jaxson Robinson is withdrawing from the NBA draft and will be committing to Kentucky, he told ESPN. pic.twitter.com/OFmmHZruCz
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) May 30, 2024
After showcasing his talents at the NBA Draft Combine, Robinson didn't impress many scouts or reporters, insisting that his performance didn't stand out among the sea of prospects fighting to draw some interest. CBS Sports suggested Robinson return to the NCAA to get NBA-ready before trying again next season.
"Robinson had a career year at BYU last season averaging a career-high 14.2 points per game while shooting 35.4% from 3-point range in Mark Pope's run-and-gun offense. He's since been linked to Kentucky with Pope now coaching the Wildcats. That might be a viable path for him after he showed off his smooth shooting stroke but by and large blended into the crowd elsewhere during the week in Chicago."Kyle Boone, CBS Sports
Robinson has clearly learned nothing from the cautionary tale of Darth Vader--the head of the government has clearly been evil the entire time, and yet he's still flipped the morals of our sweet little Anakin. In all seriousness, though, it makes sense that Robinson will rejoin Pope in Kentucky. After jumping around the SEC, he finally landed in a program with a coach who truly believed in his ability.
Kentucky will be Robinson's third and final stop in the SEC, starting at Texas A&M and moving to Arkansas before landing in Provo.
Robinson will spend his final season of college eligibility at Kentucky, where he'll be burning his extra "Covid Year". Robinson was already among the oldest prospects in this season's draft class, entering the draft following his senior season. He'll be 22 years old this time next year.
Though his age isn't a deal-breaker, NBA teams are often hesitant to take a chance on an older player, as their availability is limited by several years. Robinson has been seen as a "late-bloomer" in player development but will need to show significant growth in his season with the Wildcats to draw interest from the next level--just like Troy Bolton.
At Kentucky, Robinson will have the eyes of the college basketball world fall on him. His silky-smooth jumper should win over plenty of fans, but he'll need to improve several aspects of his game to increase his draft stock. The SEC is a tough conference, and donning Kentucky blue is a large undertaking for any player. This will be a make-or-break year for Robinson.
Thanks for the memories, Jaxson. We wish you the best of luck in your new home, and success as you move forward.