WILLIAMSTOWN, MASS. -- If Duncan Robinson had not come to Williams there would have been no University of Michigan career and likely no G League opportunity.
Robinson's G League performance elevated him to the NBA with the Miami Heat where he became the fastest player in NBA history with 300 made three pointers. He needed just 95 games to reach 300, while the next best was registered by Luka Doncic and Damian Lillard who both needed 117 games.
This season Robinson is the only Heat player to have started all 36 games. The Heat are 18-18 and in sixth place in the Eastern Conference at the All-Star Break. Robinson leads the Heat in minutes played (1,202), three pointers made (117) and he ranks 12
th this season in three pointers made in the NBA.
When
Mike Maker, his Williams coach, left after Robinson's first year to go to DI Marist College that got Robinson thinking and he asked Maker if he thought he could play DI. Maker sent tapes of Robinson playing for the Ephs to John Beilein at Michigan whom he had served under as an assistant coach at West Virginia. Beilein offered Robinson a scholarship, but by transferring to a DI school he had to sit out a year before he could play three seasons for the Wolverines.
Robinson's AAU coach with the Middlesex Magic was Mike Crotty '04 who was the point guard on the 2003 Eph NCAA DIII Champions. Crotty is the one who suggested to Robinson that he take a look at Williams when there was not much interest from college coaches offering scholarships. Upon visiting Williams and meeting the players Robinson decided Williams was a good fit for him.
Robinson is the only Eph to play in the NBA, but Bob Mahland '62 is the only Eph drafted by an NBA team. In 1962 Mahland was selected by the Chicago Zephyrs in the 7th round. However, Mahland's boss at IBM at that time would not let him take vacation time to try out. Mahland's boss told him, "You'll make more money here than in the NBA." The times have certainly changed.
Eric Gingold '96 (the world's tallest Jewish player (7-4) had 2 tryouts with the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls and also had a cameo in ESPN's highly acclaimed video "The Last Dance." "The Last Dance" was directed by Jason Hehir and he Hehir a 1998 Williams grad who played baseball for the Ephs. Small school, large footprint.
Harry Sheehy '75 who recently retired as the Athletic Director at Dartmouth College had a tryout with the Philadelphia 76ers before going on to play for Athletes in Action, where he became their all-time leader in points and rebounds. Sheehy once lit up the Russian National Team for 35 points in the LA Sports Arena.
Duncan Robinson is the first player to play in the NCAA DIII and NCAA DI championship games. He is believed to be the first player to go from DIII to DI and receive a
full scholarship.
Robinson holds the Eph record for most points scored by a first year = 548 (17.1 ppg)
He made 81 of 179 threes at Williams = 45.3%
He is the first Eph to make the NCAA All-Tournament team as a first year (2014).
He was also the D3hoops.com National Rookie of the Year, Second Team All-NESCAC and the NESCAC Rookie of the Year.
Thank you ESPN for sharing this video Signature Shots on Duncan Robison. Robinson's journey and success in the NBA is a story for the ages and the video below by ESPN not only traces that journey but illustrates how the Miami Heat work to free up Robinson for his three pointers.
