The deadline for college basketball players to withdraw from the 2024 NBA draft process and maintain their eligibility passed at 11:59 PM ET on Wednesday, May 29. At the time nearly every player had made some kind of announcement – but not Jaxson Robinson.
The former BYU guard, who had previously entered the transfer portal and was being targeted by his former coach Mark Pope at Kentucky, was silent on social media while fans in Provo and Lexington nervously refreshed hoping for an update.
The update finally came about nine hours later, with Robinson removing his name from the draft and committing to the Wildcats – giving them 12 scholarship players ahead of Pope’s first season in Lexington.
Robinson began his career at Texas A&M and spent one year at Arkansas before playing the past two seasons at BYU. He blossomed into a star last season in the Big 12, averaging 14.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists while shooting 35.4% from three on 6.9 attempts per game.
After getting plenty of attention from NBA scouts for his size and shooting ability, Robinson will now head back to the SEC and is likely going to slot into a starting role alongside fellow newcomers Kerr Kriisa, Otega Oweh, Brandon Garrison, and Andrew Carr – with Lamont Butler, Koby Brea, Amari Williams, and others in the mix as well.
A strong season in Pope’s high-octane offense could boost Robinson’s stock once again in his final year of college eligibility.