Kentucky needed a player like Jaxson Robinson. There's no question about it. '
When Mark Pope got the phone call that Robinson would be coming to Lexington -- there was excitement and relief. Not only was he someone who could fill a specific need on the floor, he could also do so in the locker room and in practice.
“It’s a gift. I bumble around, saying what I’m saying and Jaxson says,' alright guys, this is what he means'. He’s a great interpreter," Pope said of Robinson. "He’s not just an interpreter of words and concepts on the court, but he will also double down and say, hey guys, this is really important. What we just heard, you’re going to hear this every day the rest of the season. He’s a really vital piece and it doesn’t hurt that he’s an NBA-caliber player.”
Robinson was one of the final players to announce his decision after declaring for the NBA Draft.
He decided to follow Pope to Kentucky.
Now, he's ranked as the top shooting guard in the country entering his final season in college.
"It was a complete no-brainer for Robinson to follow Mark Pope from BYU to Kentucky," 247Sports national writer Isaac Trotter said. "The coveted Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year knows the system, can shoot the cover off the ball and will sprint the floor in transition for 3's against scrambling defenses. Robinson is really good at what he does well. Can he add more creation and rim pressure to his repertoire?"
In BYU's biggest wins last year, Robinson was a factor. He had 23 points agianst NC State, 17 points against Texas and 18 points against Kansas.
He had 25 of BYU's 67 points in its 2024 NCAA Tournament loss to Duquesne
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.
"I feel like I have a lot to prove, not only to people in the outside world but to myself. Knowing that I'm coming back to SEC for a third time," Robinson told reporters on Tuesday. "There are a lot of games I've got circled on my calendar, so I'm excited to get out there."
It's clear that wherever Kentucky goes -- it'll be because in large part because of Robinson.