Duke men's basketball 2016-17 player preview: Justin Robinson

Justin Robinson

• Year: Redshirt Freshman
• Height: 6-foot-8
• Position: Forward

Game Breakdown: Given Duke's talent at forward last season and Robinson’s status as a preferred walk-on, redshirting his first year allowed the San Antonio, Texas, native to earn valuable practice experience and let him concentrate on developing physically. Although the hope was that Robinson would continue to grow toward 7-feet, as his father, Hall of Famer David Robinson, did while at Navy, such growth has yet to manifest. Nevertheless, Robinson’s frame allows him to be both aggressive around the rim and able to convert from the perimeter—he shot 1-for-2 from 3-point range during Countdown to Craziness two weeks ago. An undersized big man, Robinson still has the potential to develop a post game and play the center position, which is less crowded on the depth chart.

Role on the Team: Robinson enters his first year of eligibility with the frontcourt arguably more deep than it was last season, especially given the addition of freshmen Harry Giles, Jayson Tatum and Marques Bolden. As a result, Robinson will likely see limited time for a majority of the season. If granted the opportunity to see the floor, the San Antonio native provides the Blue Devils with strong defense and the ability to make plays from anywhere on the court.

NBA Comparison: With the ability to compete both on the offensive and defensive ends of the floor, Robinson possesses a similar game to the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Jerami Grant. Each utilizes his athleticism to create pressure on defenses, and, though they may not have the most impressive statlines, can contribute at any given moment. Although Robinson is currently a long shot to make the NBA, his pedigree and potential to grow will certainly make him a worthwhile asset in Durham for the next four years.

Projected stats: 0.1 PPG, 0.1 RPG, 0.1 BPG

Stay tuned to the Blue Zone for our continuing player previews with sophomore Antonio Vrankovic tomorrow. Previous players previewed include Jack White, Javin DeLaurier, Frank Jackson, Marques Bolden, Jayson Tatum and Harry Giles.