When Kentucky landed BYU transfer guard Jaxson Robinson, it was critically important for numerous reasons.
Not only was he someone who knew Mark Pope and the system that he would be running at Kentucky, he was also the go-to scorer that UK needed to complete its roster.
Robinson played two years at BYU for Pope, averaging 11.4 points per game across 66 games. He was BYU’s leading scorer last season at 14.2 points per game off of the bench. Robinson was the Big 12’s Sixth Man of the Year this season and was terrific despite coming off of the bench.
While his offensive potential is key to this team, Pope says the importance of his addition goes beyond just that.
“Really special and really important. And listen, Jaxon would’ve been drafted this year … He’s been with me for two years and we went through a real growth cycle and BYU. He knows us,” Pope said during a segment with BBN Tonight. “So he’s important for a lot of reasons. He’s a great player and a pro. Two, he’s one of the most dangerous offensive players in all of college basketball, proven. And three, he has the potential to be an elite, elite level defensive presence on the floor. And four most importantly, for us and our locker room, he knows me. he knows how we play.”
Kentucky brings in eight transfers and three freshmen, so having someone who can be an ‘advocate’ for Pope and his message is critical and something that he will lean on Robinson for.
He’s going to be a great advocate and interpreter for what we do and how we do it,” Pope said.
Robinson went through the NBA Draft process and was the last person to withdraw from the draft ahead of the deadlne.
Pope is extremely excited to have another year with Robinson, both on and off the floor and help him finish his career the right way.
“The fact I get to have a third year and watch that growth continue,” Pope added. “Selfishly is really exciting for me.”
