Tracking the College Basketball Stars of the Future=====

ECU & C-USA Hoops Recruiting Report Saturday, March 15, 2003 By Thad Mumau Special Correspondent

Maine prep star's coach high on Herrion

©2003 Bonesville.net

The latest in a long list of guards to be recruited by East Carolina basketball coaches is Franklin Robinson. He’s a 6-3, 210-pound shooting guard at Pittsfield Maine Central Institute.

A fifth-year senior, Robinson had the grades coming out Sylmar (CA) High School to qualify for college freshman eligibility, but he wanted more exposure. So he chose the prep school route.

He averaged 17.8 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals per game this season as MCI finished with a 16-10 record. He connected on 42 percent of his shots from the floor, including 40 percent of his three-point attempts. He sank 80 percent from the foul line.

Robinson, a lefty, scored a season-high 27 points against Redemption Christian and had 20 against Bridgeton Academy.

"He was our most consistent player," MCI coach Ed Jones said. "Franklin is very athletic and is a highlight film in the making. He plays around the rim and gets there with aggressive drives to the basket. And he finishes real strong. He made a lot of nice drives down the baseline for two-handed dunks.

"Franklin loves to be in the open court. He is a catch-and-shoot player and is a good slasher. He doesn’t have an exceptional first step, but he is big and strong, and his wide shoulders help him clear a path for himself. His size and strength pay off when he goes inside.

"He hits threes off screens, and most of his jump shots come off the catch rather than the dribble. He has plenty of range and is a legitimate three-point shooter. He takes what people give him and feels comfortable shooting jumpers or driving. He knows how to play if people crowd him or if they play off him.

"If defenses back off and give him the three, he will hit it. If they play up on him, he will go hard to the basket.

"Franklin has never posted people up much," Jones said, "but he has the size and jumping ability to do that. He usually just takes people off the dribble. He is faster than he is quick.

"He is a good passer, and his ball handling is decent. If he has any real weakness, it would be handling. He needs work on that."

East Carolina has shown interest in Robinson, with Pirates’ assistant coach Greg Herenda watching him play during the season. Georgia Tech, DePaul, Seton Hall, Oklahoma State and George Mason are also in the hunt.

"No one has offered (a scholarship) yet," Jones said, "but most of those schools have sent someone to see Franklin play. I would say East Carolina has shown the most interest. He hasn’t visited anywhere."

The Pirates have an edge because of Jones. He played at the University of Maine when ECU coach Bill Herrion was the head man at Drexel. They faced each other from 1992-94 and also in the 1990-91 season when Herrion was an assistant at George Washington University.

"Maine and Drexel were in what was then the North Atlantic (now the American East) Conference," Jones said, "and I played against Coach Herrion’s teams for three years. He got Drexel into the NCAA Tournament my senior season and the next two years after that. They were always real competitive. We know each other.

"If offered, I think Franklin would visit East Carolina because of my respect for Coach Herrion, what he has done and what he is doing. He is getting his players in place there. They are young and improving, and I think they will be fine.

"Conference USA is also attractive, so there are lots of reasons that Franklin should visit East Carolina. He would be silly not to take a look. It’s up to them, though, whether they invite him.
"Franklin wouldn’t necessarily take all five of his visits," Jones said. "He’s a smart person. If he visits somewhere and really likes it there, that would probably be it. Some people love the drama. He doesn’t."

Although he has qualified, Robinson plans to take the SAT again because he would like to score higher.

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02/23/2007 02:40:26 PM
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