Will forward Jaxson Robinson be back at BYU next season?
In the immediate aftermath of the Cougars’ exit from the NCAA Tournament, the Big 12′s Sixth Man of the Year left the door open for a return to Provo.
“This loss sucks,” Robinson said. “Like [head coach Mark Pope] said, want to be back here next year. I’m already thinking about it. But …”
“We can make that happen right now,” Pope chimed in.
Robinson came off the bench this season and still led the Cougars in scoring, averaging 13.8 points per game while shooting 34.9% from beyond the arc.
Heading into the week, ESPN listed Robinson as the 37th-best NBA prospect in this year’s tournament.
“There are still things to like about the 6-7 wing with a lengthy wingspan and dynamic shot-making prowess, as he shows some real versatility with the way he gets into his jumper,” draft analyst Jonathan Givony wrote. “But he is an inconsistent defender and decision-maker who doesn’t quite make as many shots as you might hope. NBA teams will take a closer look at Robinson, but he’s a very young senior who could return to BYU for his final year of eligibility.”
Robinson likely helped his draft stock with his performance Thursday, scoring a game-high 25 points on 8-of-15 shooting, 5-of-11 from deep.
Regardless of what Robinson ultimately decides, Pope credited the wing and senior Spencer Johnson, who was also on the dais after Thursday’s loss, with helping the Cougars take a major step in their program’s evolution.
“We understand what a multi-year process it is. From year one last year to year two was epic growth and progression,” Pope said. “I think our program is hungry to continue getting better. We’ve made massive strides in that area. And at some point, you know, we’ll be progressing in this tournament, and Jaxson and Spencer will be a big part of that because they opened the door to this first season in the Big 12.”
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