Jaxson Robinson #2 of the Kentucky Wildcats (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
The NBA Draft Combine commences this weekend, but one of the best performers from last year's edition won't be there. Former Kentucky Wildcats shooting guard/small forward Jaxson Robinson is focusing first and foremost on recovering from the wrist surgery that prematurely ended his college career back in late February.
Surgical repair was the best option for the situation, but it meant a timeline of approximately three months for a full recovery. It's hard to say how much the 2025 combine could have really augmented the fifth-year senior's draft stock, given how well his 2024 combine went.
Robinson topped all guards at the 2024 combine in both standing reach (8'7") and wingspan (6'11.25"). He was also the fourth tallest guard at the event, measuring 6'4.75" without shoes. Being a big, tall guard, with a smooth and efficient (38%) three-point shooting stroke makes him a top NBA Draft prospect, but he still has to convince NBA scouts and GMs that he's fully healthy.
With the combine not an option, he'll have to do it by privately working out for teams.
Building His Game and Future
Rehabilitation, which started about three weeks ago, is the main focus for the Ada, Oklahoma native right now.
In an exclusive interview with RG, Robinson said that his top priority was "just trying to get my mind and body right for pre-draft. Obviously that's the next step—just trying to get my wrist right; stay in shape, get my body right."
We also asked him what specifics in his game he's working on:
"Just keep chipping away and learning how to become a better player, defensively."
Conversely, we also asked him what facets of his game are his strongest selling points.
"I mean, obviously my shooting, and just my ability just to create shots for myself," Robinson responded.
"Like I said, defense, I've really prided myself on defense this past year; so just trying to take steps forward."
Journey through Transfers and Triumph
The versatile wing player was a four-star recruit coming out of high school and rated the overall top player in the state of Oklahoma. He first began his college career at Texas A&M, but couldn't find the right fit in College Station. Robinson then transferred to Arkansas (another Southeastern Conference school), where again, he could not carve out the right niche for himself.
So he hit the portal again, and the third time was a charm. He built a strong rapport with Brigham Young head coach Mark Pope and found his groove again. He immediately became a full-time starter for the Cougars. Pope was able to reach the young, developing prospect in a way that his two previous head coaches could not.
"He's a great X's and O's coach," Robinson said of Pope, "knows his stuff. He's got a great staff behind him."
In Provo, Robinson won the 2023-24 Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year award (a bit paradoxical, considering how many games he started that season) as he averaged 14.2 points per game. Pope had so much success at BYU that it wasn't long until his alma mater came calling.
The University of Kentucky needed a new head coach as John Calipari left after 15 seasons. UK was seemingly fine with letting him go.
Pope, who captained Kentucky's 1995-96 national championship team, was the perfect fit, and Robinson logically followed him to Lexington.
"Following my coach, I couldn't ask for a better situation," Robinson continued.
"Also, his being at a prestigious university like Kentucky, it was really easy for me to just make a simple decision, and come back to school to play for my coach."
For Robinson, that made it four different schools (three of which are in the SEC) in five years, an idea that would have been unheard of 10, or maybe even five years ago. But in today's brave new college basketball world, with a deregulated, laissez-faire transfer portal, it's actually becoming somewhat common.
Pope was the perfect mentor for Robinson during the back half of his college playing career. He's also the right guy to guide him through the transition to the next level, as he had a six-year NBA career himself.
Drafted by the Pacers in '96, Pope also played for the Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, and Denver Nuggets.
Robinson, widely projected to go somewhere between the late first round and early second, knows he has a lot to sell to the league.
"I think that over my college career, I have a great body of work," he continued.
"Just as far as improvements I think I've shown throughout the five years that I've been in college. I've improved every year and in the things that I needed to improve on. So just continue to take those steps forward and learn how to become a better basketball player. That's really it for me."
Before injuring his wrist, Robinson started the first 23 games of this past season, averaging 13.0 points and 3.5 rebounds.
He then added: "Obviously, the season got cut short, but I think just the things that I did this year definitely can't go unnoticed."
Paul M. Banks
