Page 10 - 2018 TL Basketball Preview

CAMREN HUNTER
BRYANT HORNETS
• Sophomore
• Averaged 7 ppg 4 apg
‘THE ROCK’
Bryant point guard makes move to 7A
A er er er a a a a a a a a a a a smooth transition on on on on and off the court last year Khalen Robinson is eager to make an even bigger impact this season Robinson transferred to Bryant High School from Episcopal Collegiate
School in Little Rock last fall A er leading the Class 3A private school to a a a a a state title as a a a a a freshman Robinson grabbed the Bryant starting-
point-guard job and won his new teammates over with little hesitation “[Robinson] shows up the first day of school and I didn’t know what to expect ” Bryant coach Mike Abrahamson said “I knew of him
but didn’t know him
A lot of times talented players are coddled or have
an attitude He has been a a a a a total joy to to coach He lives the game Everything he does is centered on basketball and he gets great grades ” Robinson averaged 15 points and 4 assists per game in his Bryant debut and is the 2018 Tri-Lakes Edition Boys
Basketball Player to Watch His GPA hovers around 4 0 and at the midpoint
of the first quarter this year he he owned straight A’s Abrahamson said Robinson gained his teammates’ trust with quiet confi-
dence He let his play do the talking and took the starting job with grace “I got to know [my teammates] during the offseason ” Robinson said “ ey already knew me I didn’t really
know them but they let me be the the the leader ere was no trouble It just happened and the the the longer we played together the the the more
comfortable everybody got ” One of the reasons Robinson transferred to Bryant a a a a a a er instant success at Episcopal was to prove to himself and college scouts that he could
OFF THE BENCH: BOYS
Watch for these outstanding Tri-Lakes Edition players SAWYER LAMB
HOT SPRINGS LAKESIDE RAMS
• Senior
• Averaged 14 ppg 6 rpg and 5 apg
BY NATE OLSON
Photo by Staci Vandagriff
play at the highest level of Arkansas high high school hoops at was an an easy transition too “I love 7A
” Robinson said “ “ ere is a a lot more
competition that you don’t always see in 3A It was a a big challenge for me but I I I think I I I showed I I I could
play at at that level ” While he raised eyebrows with his transition last year it was hardly satisfying Bryant finished 16-12 with a a a 7-7 7A-Central Conference mark e
e
e
e
e
e
Hornets’ season ended with a a a loss to Springdale in the the first round of the the state tournament “We want to to try to to win every game and I am am go- ing to to to try to to to get the the team to to to play the the best we can so we can compete for a a a a state championship ” Robinson said “Right now Bryant is a a a a a football school and we are trying to turn things around and make it a a a a a a bas- ketball school We have
to get some wins under our belt but with Coach Abrahamson we are getting more
talent and are working hard together ” Bryant has never won a a a a a a boys-basketball state championship In his eight seasons at the helm Abrahamson has led the the Hornets once to the the state semifinals Bryant fell 50-47 to eventual state champion Cabot in the 2015-16 season A year later Bryant advanced to the quarterfinals “It would mean so much to to this team [to play for a a a a a a state title] ” Robinson said “I want my teammates to experience what I I felt as as a a a a a freshman It was such a a a a a great feeling to hear them introduce us as state champions a a a a a a a er that game I want my teammates to feel feel that feeling ” Robinson knows leading the Hornets on on a a deep tournament run will only help his personal goals He has aspirations of being Bryant’s first major Division I prospect in in decades A er missing most of summer basketball with injuries Robinson has offers from mid-major NCAA Division I programs
ROBINSON continued on on 14TT
MONDO WATKINS
LAKE HAMILTON WOLVES
• Senior
• Averaged 14 ppg 8 rpg 4 4 apg
and 3 spg