Former Big 12 player of the year/KU great Robinson returning to Lawrence for camp

Hoping to “squeeze two or three more years” into a professional basketball career that is alive and well in season No. 12, former Kansas Jayhawks power forward Thomas Robinson is slowly transitioning into what he calls the “after-life.”

That’s life after hoops, perhaps as a coach or teacher of fundamental skills to youth.

“Just continue to be involved, always try to give back,” Robinson, a 33-year-old former first-team All-American and Big 12 player of the year, said of his reasons for hosting his first “Ground Up Basketball Camp.”

The camp is intended for boys and girls ages 7-16. It will run Aug. 5-9 at “The Good Game,” a basketball facility at 3705 Clinton Parkway in Lawrence.

“Having my first basketball camp in Kansas, especially with me coming toward the end of a career, I want to make this something I do annually,” Robinson said. “Number one, this is going to guarantee I come back (to Lawrence). Number two, it’s a great start to having a foundation there. The next thing for me would be some type of business. Between me wanting to get my feet on the ground with this camp, working with kids, I’ll be pretty much embedded.”

Robinson, who had his jersey No. 0 hung in the Allen Fieldhouse rafters Iast December, opened his pro career as a top-five draft pick of the Sacramento Kings. He competed for six teams during his five years in the NBA.

Since his last season in the league (2016-17), he’s played in Russia, China, Turkey, South Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia and Puerto Rico.

The 6-foot-10, 240-pound native of Washington D.C. — he played his third and final season of college hoops at KU in 2011-12 — currently is playing in the first round of the Baloncesto Superior National League playoffs for a team in Carolina, Puerto Rico.

Once the postseason ends, he’ll head to Lawrence to run his camp, which will also feature instruction from former KU guards Mario Little and Elijah Johnson.

Information on the camp, including ways to sponsor young athletes who wish to attend, is available at his website or by emailing Robinson at Grounduptraining24@gmail.com.

Robinson told The Star on Monday that, because of his playoff commitment in Puerto Rico, he will be unable to compete for a second straight season in the upcoming TBT in Wichita.

He was the starting forward for the “Mass Street” KU alumni team a year ago.

The 2024 Mass Street roster consists of a mix of former KU players plus three who did not play in a game at KU. The former Jayhawks are: Little, Frank Mason III, Sam Cunliffe, Dedric Lawson, Jamari Traylor, Lagerald Vick, Kevin Young, Malik Newman and Silvio De Sousa.

The roster was not finalized as of Monday night. Others on the team include forward Billy Preston, who never played in a regular-season game for the Jayhawks because of NCAA issues; guard Travis Washington of Utah Valley; and former Arkansas forward Chandler Lawson, who is Dedric’s brother.

“That would have been dope for the fans to see me and Frank (as) some fantasy-type deal,” Robinson said with a laugh. Mason was national player of the year in 2017; Robinson was a finalist for the Wooden and Naismith awards in 2012.

KU’s Mass Street squad went 2-1 in the single-elimination TBT a year ago with Robinson a force down low. Mason did not compete in TBT a year ago.

“It’s hard because this is a high-level tournament. It’s no longer a cakewalk,” Robinson said. “The tournament is pretty much some of the top players outside of the NBA. Tyshawn (Taylor, Mass Street team organizer) did a great job with the roster. They’ll do well.”

Robinson is still close with former KU teammates and NBA veterans Marcus and Markieff Morris, who, like Robinson live in Florida in the offseason.

“I’m still right there with them,” Robinson said. “It’s amazing. They’ve finished 13 years in the league, going on 14. To play that long, you can’t take it for granted.

“We’re all fortunate we’ve been pretty healthy. I’m a little nicked up right now. It’s what happens in basketball. (I give) all I can, always. That’s the way it’s always going to be.”

Asked about the team KU coach Bill Self has put together for the 2024-25 season, Robinson stated: “I like the guards. There’s a lot of good, tough guards (returnees Dajuan Harris and Jamari McDowell, plus portal transfers Shakeel Moore, AJ Storr, Zeke Mayo and Rylan Griffen, as well as freshman Rakease Passmore).

“You’ve got Hunter (Dickinson) coming back so that’s going to be a big plus.”