Prospect Watch: Trae Robinson (2018)
Class of 2018 post player Trae Robinson of Saxony Lutheran can sometimes be mistaken for a major prospect of an offensive lineman in football.
At 6’8″ and 290-pounds, Robinson looks the part of a football player, but he enjoys the action on the basketball court and that’s what he wants to pursue in college. That still hasn’t stopped a few college football coaches to make overtures, despite the fact that Saxony Lutheran does not have a football team.
“I’ve been invited to a few elite football camps,” said Robinson laughing.
Robinson is a very intriguing basketball prospect that bears watching as he continues to develop. He has gradually improved over the course of the year as he has lost a lot of extra weight, which has made him a more effective player. His coach at Saxony Lutheran, Kevin Williams, said Robinson has lost 80 pounds in the past two seasons. He is more mobile around the basket and he can play for longer stretches of time.
“I’ve been able to keep my conditioning and get up and down the court better,” Robinson said. “It’s been much easier that it used to be. It has also helped with my vertical jumping and agility.”
Robinson also has a solid low post skill set to go along with his size. He has soft hands and catches the ball well in traffic, plus he can finish well around the basket. When he sets up shop in the low post, he is very difficult to move out of the way.
“Right now, my main strength is my inside game,” Robinson said. “I’m trying to expand my game a little bit and work on a mid-range jumper.”
Robinson is an excellent player on the high post because of his passing ability. During a tournament last weekend with his Rainmakers Premiere, Robinson made several nice passes from the high post to open cutters to the basket or 3-point shooters on the wing.
“I like passing the ball,” Robinson said. “I’ve always had good vision where I can see the open man.”