James Robinson

Classroom

James Robinson is a three-time academic all-conference selection (Academic All-Big East in 2012-13, Academic All-ACC in 2013-14, 2014-15). He has been named to the ACC Honor Roll in each of the past two years while majoring in communications. Robinson has maintained a GPA above 3.0 throughout his career, and he is a terrific mentor for the younger members of the program.

Character

Robinson is a consummate team player who takes a professional approach to his academic as well as athletic career. He is a strong leader on the court despite possessing a quiet personality. He exhibits maturity beyond his years and has a true appreciation for the position he is in. Many of those traits can be seen in how he mentors new players in the program. He is constantly leading through his actions. The biggest testament to his character may be the fact that he can be counted on to make the right decisions on and off the court.

Community

Robinson’s community service activities include the following: visits to the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh; volunteering at the Maggie Dixon Heart Health Fair; gift sorting and wrapping for Christmas at Pitt (a program to provide gifts for underprivileged families); participation with Pittsburgh Kids Foundation/Coalition for Christian Outreach. He visited the summer day camp at The Pittsburgh Project three times per week for eight weeks, where he assisted with academic, athletic, and spiritual formation activities, and he led children in grades K-5 throughout the afternoon programs.

Robinson was also active in the community throughout high school participating in Maryland Spartans Books Before Ball Program (peer tutor & mentor) and So Others May Eat (soup kitchen in the District of Columbia serving less fortunate adults). He involvement in basketball also led to visits with disabled children and participating in a Nike Hoops Summit basketball clinic for children from abusive backgrounds.

Competition

Robinson is a steady point guard who entered his senior season as the ACC leader in career assist-to-turnover ratio (3.56:1). He had started 102 of 103 career games, accumulating 778 points, 438 assists, 303 rebounds and 121 steals. Prior to this season, Robinson ranked among the Pitt all-time leaders in assists (10th, 438) and free throw percentage (fifth, .808). He has guided the Panthers to three postseason appearances and 69 wins over his first three seasons at Pittsburgh. In 2014-15, Robinson led the ACC in assists (5.1 apg.) and assist-to-turnover ratio (3.11:1) while ranking fifth in free throw percentage (.833). Robinson has also had a great deal of success on the international stage earning gold medals with Team USA at the FIBA U18 World Championships (2013) and U18 FIBA Americas Championship (2012).