Tragic news about a former UConn college hoops great. Stanley Robinson, who starred for the Huskies and was drafted by the Orlando Magic died Tuesday in Alabama.
Robinson died at his home in Birmingham. He was 32.
The UConn Basketball family grieves the loss of a great player and an even greater person, Stanley “Sticks” Robinson. Our thoughts and prayers are with Stanley’s family at this difficult time 🙏
Rest In Peace, Sticks. pic.twitter.com/ihm5z0h1OK
— UConn Men's Basketball (@UConnMBB) July 22, 2020
The Viking family mourns the loss of Stanley Robinson “Sticks”. True pioneer for the Huffman Basketball program. Continued prayers for his family and Children 🙏🏾. pic.twitter.com/oId6xj5EZq
— Huffman Basketball (@_VikingsBball) July 22, 2020
The 6-foot-9 Robinson played at UConn from 2006-2010. The Huskies went to the Final Four in 2009. Robinson averaged 9.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, scoring 1,231 points in his career with the Huskies.
“He was just a really, really sweet kid,” said Jim Calhoun, who recruited Robinson and coached him at UConn. “The world was harsh for him, because they weren’t all like Stanley Robinson. He was such a caring, giving person.”
His windmill dunk against Syracuse during the six-OT game at the Big East tournament in ‘09 is best remembered.
Robinson was found by his mother, Calhoun said.
An autopsy was performed, and the cause of death is pending test results. “However, we found no evidence of foul play or trauma,” Yates said.
“He was certainly one of the great athletes I’ve coached,” Calhoun said. “He just could never get the break he needed.”
Stanley Robinson spent the first semester of the 2008-09 season working at a scrapyard in Willimantic to prove to Jim Calhoun he had the discipline to be let back on the team. In the second semester he avg 14.8 ppg and 8.4 rpg in the tourney to lead UConn to the 2009 Final Four. https://t.co/IErQyQDSGx
— Rob Dauster (@RobDauster) July 22, 2020
Robinson was drafted in the second round by the NBA’s Orlando Magic in 2010, but was cut on the last day of camp.