MAUMELLE — When the game was on the line, Maumelle’s Tremont Robinson wanted the ball in his hands.
The senior guard, who fought back from an anterior-`cruciate-ligament tear in his left knee during the 2016 Class 5A State Championship game, helped lead the Hornets to a 27-5 record and is the 2017 River Valley & Ozark Edition Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
Robinson averaged 15.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.1 steals per game. He also hit game-winning shots against Little Rock Parkview and Jacksonville along the way.
“That feels good,” Robinson said, referring to his teammates counting on him in crunch time. “They look up to me. I play my role as the star player. At the end of the game, I tell them to relax and move the ball up the court. There is no hesitation. My mind is made up.”
This is also the third year in a row that the River Valley & Ozark Edition Boys Player of the Year is from Maumelle. J.B. Minix won the award in 2015, and Shawn Williams in 2016.
“It means a lot,” Robinson said of being in the same company as Minix and Williams. “I’ve been working hard. I’ll come in here at 3 o’clock and work on my shot. For three years straight with Maumelle people, that is huge.”
Robinson said that following his injury, he worked every day to get back to where he could play.
“I had rehab from 3-5:30 on practice days,” he said. “Then I’d go home and do my own reps there. It was just an everyday thing. I couldn’t drive, walk or run. I just worked on stationary shots.”
Maumelle coach Michael Shook wasn’t surprised by the type of season Robinson had.
“From Day 1, he’s been our best player,” Shook said. “He’s been our leader. The past three years, he’s one of if not the best player we’ve had, even last year with Shawn, who is tremendous offensively. Tremont was our best all-around player. He was our go-to guy. Same thing this year. He continued to work on his ability. After his injury in the state finals, he really worked on his shot, developed a perimeter game. This year, whenever people backed off him for fear of him getting to the basket, he’d knock shots down.
“He was an all-around offensive threat. Of course, on the defensive end, he’s one of the best defenders we’ve had ever. He always set the tone for the rest of the team. He would always ask to guard the other team’s best player. He didn’t want to shy away from it.”
Robinson said he believes he played well this season, but the Hornets did not make it back to the state title game for a third consecutive season. They lost to Pulaski Mills 75-59
in the Class 5A state semifinals. Mills beat Parkview to win the state championship.
“I felt like I came back pretty strong,” Robinson said.
Robinson said it was hard not getting to play for a state title again after doing so as a sophomore and junior.
“I was thinking if I hadn’t got hurt, I might have a ring,” he said. “This year, the way that Mills played, they wanted it more than us.”
Robinson said he will definitely play basketball at the next level.
“I’m waiting on my results of the ACT,” he said. “Once I get those back, I’ll be ready if I qualify, but I’m definitely going to play basketball next year.”
Shook said Robinson has options. He is being recruited by several junior college programs in the event that he doesn’t score high enough on the ACT.
Robinson said he’s had interest from NCAA Division I programs, such as Louisiana State University, the University of Florida and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Robinson has also talked to junior colleges Bossier Parrish Community College in Bossier City, Louisiana, and Neosho County Community College in Chanute, Kansas.
Shook said at least a dozen junior colleges have contacted Robinson.
“Bossier and Neosho are the two he’s taken visits to,” Shook said. “No matter where he ends up, he’ll be at a D1 school after his two years if he doesn’t qualify. He’s that talented, and I believe, after talking to several
of the junior college coaches, they are used to dealing with the students who don’t qualify. So they have the means of study hall and other things set up to help the kids be successful and meet those qualifications. I know with Tremont’s work ethic, he’s going to be a Division I basketball player, whether it’s next year or three years from now. He’ll definitely get there.”
Staff writer Mark Buffalo can be reached at (501) 399-3676 or mbuffalo@arkansasonline.com.