Forrest Robinson lands at South Plains C.C.

ADLER · July 22, 2012

Former North Texas player Forrest Robinson has landed at South Plains C.C. The freshman forward left North Texas for the opportunity to play more extensive minutes at a juco to develop his game. The 6-10 forward/center will be eligible to sign with North Texas, or any other school, for the 2013-2014 season.

This was surely the best developmental route for Forrest and also freed a North Texas scholarship slot for a player that will likely be more integral to this coming season: a great move for all parties involved. Good luck Forrest, we'll all be cheering for you, and hopefully you may be wearing the green again in coming seasons.

http://rivals.yahoo....Robinson-142589

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Edited July 23, 2012 by Harry

Harry · July 22, 2012

Good info Adler and good luck to Forrest!

UNT90 · July 22, 2012

Interesting.

Would he come back? Would Benford want him back?

ADLER · July 22, 2012

Interesting.

Would he come back? Would Benford want him back?

Why not, for either question.

Forrest, who's prior competition was rural west Texas 2a teams, has NBA aspirations and needed to go some place where he could get extended playing time for a season and refine his game. He now has that at South Plains, a school where 6 players from last years team alone have developed to the point that they've received D1 scholarships.

Benford's job is to put the best possible product on the court within the guidelines set by the NCAA. If a player of Robinson's stature and ability is what North Texas requires, then certainly Coach Benford and the North Texas family would welcome him back. Forrest Robinson would bring many advantages to North Texas because he is already familiar with the university and its support systems. The coaching staff and many of the players would be new, but there would be much that he was familiar with.

It is not a personal issue for a player that gets limited minutes in his freshman year to spend his sophomore season at a juco to improve his game. Neither the coach or the player should be offended as nobody turned their back on anyone, and if the player develops he usually has a lot of options after juco.

What is far worse is when a player that does not receive much playing time as a freshman stays, never develops to his potential, and is permanently relegated to the end of the bench for the duration of his college career. This doesn't benefit the player and ultimately hurts the team by denying that scholarship spot to a more able contributing player.

UNT90 · July 23, 2012

Why not, for either question.

Forrest, who's prior competition was rural west Texas 2a teams, has NBA aspirations and needed to go some place where he could get extended playing time for a season and refine his game. He now has that at South Plains, a school where 6 players from last years team alone have developed to the point that they've received D1 scholarships.

Benford's job is to put the best possible product on the court within the guidelines set by the NCAA. If a player of Robinson's stature and ability is what North Texas requires, then certainly Coach Benford and the North Texas family would welcome him back. Forrest Robinson would bring many advantages to North Texas because he is already familiar with the university and its support systems. The coaching staff and many of the players would be new, but there would be much that he was familiar with.

It is not a personal issue for a player that gets limited minutes in his freshman year to spend his sophomore season at a juco to improve his game. Neither the coach or the player should be offended as nobody turned their back on anyone, and if the player develops he usually has a lot of options after juco.
What is far worse is when a player that does not receive much playing time as a freshman stays, never develops to his potential, and is permanently relegated to the end of the bench for the duration of his college career. This doesn't benefit the player and ultimately hurts the team by denying that scholarship spot to a more able contributing player.

I agree. It just seems that ego might get in the way of Forrest coming back (if it was his decision to leave), or a lack of improvement may mean Benford doesn't want him back.

I don't think we see Forrest again, which makes me sad. He is a legit 6'11" forward/center with a sweet stroke, even from the 3 point line. Those don't grow on trees. I would have loved to see what Benford could have done with him. He should have been a redshirt freshman for this upcoming season. We all know why he didn't have that opporunity. I hope a lesson was learned.

greenjoe · July 23, 2012

OK, but he already HAD a D 1 scholarship. He would have earned court time in due time. There is no law requiring a player to skip his senior or junior season to be considered a NBA prospect. If he's really that good, he would have had all the minutes he wanted. I was sorry to see him go. And to find out the reason is even more of a disappointment. But good luck Forest. I hope this works out.

GO MEAN GREEN

ADLER · July 23, 2012

I agree. It just seems that ego might get in the way of Forrest coming back (if it was his decision to leave), or a lack of improvement may mean Benford doesn't want him back.

I don't think we see Forrest again, which makes me sad. He is a legit 6'11" forward/center with a sweet stroke, even from the 3 point line. Those don't grow on trees. I would have loved to see what Benford could have done with him. He should have been a redshirt freshman for this upcoming season. We all know why he didn't have that opporunity. I hope a lesson was learned.

Forrest (and every healthy player on the team) had to play last year because of injuries and suspensions. Forrest and one other freshman shot less than 35% from the field, and both of these players averaged 1.6 points per game. Neither player would be expected to get much playing time with the roster depth this upcoming season, and with the limited minutes, would be really challenged to move up the depth chart for subsequent seasons. The juco route was an excellent decision for Forrest and it provides him the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution at North Texas or another college for his junior and senior seasons.

foutsrouts · July 23, 2012

I hope he comes back. I (and my BB coach brother) drove a bunch of miles to see him play in HS, and I really like the guy's potential. He's a very good athlete, and I hope things work out well for him regardless. Big guys don't grow on trees.

GrandGreen · July 23, 2012

Forrest was hurt last year, which combined with his small hs background didn't really help him last year. He was a 3 star recruit which before his recruiting class, JJ had signed a total of 1 from the hs ranks. He definitely has potential but must get a lot tougher than he has shown.

I am not sure why he left NT but my guess there was more to it than playing time. It is not like NT was loading with bigs last year or this year. Outside of Mitchell, there is a very big but unproven Coleman and Niko who shouldn't scare anybody from a competitive standpoint.

Whether NT actually placed him at the juco or not: odds are that he has seen the last of NT. The early commit of Nunn and Casimiro seem to indicate that NT does not expect him back and even if they did; it seldom works out. The player doesn't show the necessary improvement and the school doesn't want them or they show a lot and they look for greener pastures.

Edited July 23, 2012 by GrandGreen

risinggreen · July 23, 2012

Of course they do not grow on trees... Is our school system failing!? They come from well... as your mom!

Apparently so.

GangGreen · July 23, 2012

Of course they do not grow on trees... Is our school system failing!? They come from well... as your mom!

Skiver lecturing on education = Paterno lecturing on ethics

TheTastyGreek · October 26, 2012

Not sure if Anthony Walker (another Sophomore at South Plains) is still intent on going to UT Arlington once he finishes up this season (he was a verbal to them out of high school... believe he had eligibility issues). But, if he is... I wouldn't be totally shocked to see Robinson come back to the Metroplex with him. I don't think it would be the first time UTA grabbed a pair of players from the same JUCO.

NT03 · October 26, 2012

I could have shore Walker was announced with the Baton Rouge CC signing class. I might be getting my Walker's confused tho

Harry · October 26, 2012

Good info NT03, we shore appreciate it!

UNT Five&Dime · October 26, 2012

Good info NT03, we shore appreciate it!

He always has boatloads of info, huh?

Guaranteed22 · October 26, 2012

I think he would have benefited more from playing against Mitchell in practice every day. He may not see much playing time there either.

NT03 · October 28, 2012

I could have shore Walker was announced with the Baton Rouge CC signing class. I might be getting my Walker's confused tho

Okay, i got my Walker's confused

BRCC signed Jefferey Walker out of Pinkston back in May

That's what i get for trying to keep track of every single recruit

Edited October 28, 2012 by NT03

emmitt01 · October 28, 2012

Okay, i got my Walker's confused

BRCC signed Jefferey Walker out of Pinkston back in May

That's what i get for trying to keep track of every single recruit

Dont feel bad, we appreciate the updates. I would rudder you keep up with all of them than none of them.

NT03 · October 28, 2012

Well speak of the devil, Forrest committed to DePaul over the weekend

Edited October 28, 2012 by NT03

UNT90 · October 28, 2012

From UNT to a Big East bottom feeder?

I think UNT and Forrest will both regret this decision.

Edited October 28, 2012 by UNT90

greenminer · October 28, 2012

From UNT to a Big East bottom feeder?

I think UNT and Forrest will both regret this decision.

Would you consider this whole thing a wash?

UNT90 · October 28, 2012

Would you consider this whole thing a wash?

Forrest was/is a gamble. He is a legit 6'10" player that has a sweet stroke from the outside. Those are rare, rare, rare. But he was raw, raw, raw, and had a complete lack of aggression in the paint. I would have been more than willing to take the gamble that through coaching and maturation, he would have developed into something special.

I don't know how often he will get off the bench for Depaul, or how effective he will be in the Big East. It's just a shame we couldn't have redshirted him last year and kept him here to see how he developed.

Sad for both he and UNT.

Edited October 28, 2012 by UNT90