Former KU standout Thomas Robinson persevered through extreme adversity

In Part II on Thomas Robinson, I include this feature I wrote on him in the March 2011 issue of Kansas City Sports & Fitness.

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KU's Robinson overcomes tragedy

Thomas Robinson’s life changed forever at approximately 11 p.m. on Jan. 21.

That’s when Robinson’s 7-year-old sister Jayla called from home in Washington, D.C., to tell her older brother and KU sophomore forward that their mother, Lisa, had just died of an apparent heart attack.

Lisa was just 43.

Robinson’s teammates, the KU coaching staff, and some of the players’ mothers soon gathered in Robinson’s Jayhawker Towers apartment to console and support him through the dark night. Junior guard Tyshawn Taylor’s mother, Jeanell, massaged Robinson’s back as he sobbed uncontrollably. The entire team cried. They mourned. They came together as a family.

“It was the saddest thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” KU coach Bill Self said, “but it was probably something that was humbling and made you proud because those kids and family and everybody do care about each other an awful lot.”

Robinson, who had lost his mother, grandmother and grandfather within a three-week period, played against Texas the next day in KU’s first loss of the season.

“He’s a stud,” Self said afterwards. “For him to even be out there is remarkable. ... How his life has changed so much overnight, it’s a pretty sad thing. People deal with it all the time and he’ll deal with it like a man. Still, your heart certainly hurts for him and his family.”

Suddenly, at age 19, Robinson had just his baby sister and older half-brother Jamah left in his immediate family. As the man of the house, Robinson went back home with KU director of basketball operations Barry Hinson and Angel Morris (mother of teammates’ Marcus and Markieff Morris) to Washington, D.C., to handle funeral arrangements. He picked out the casket and the clothes for his mother.

The entire team and staff attended the funeral at Antioch Baptist Church before an overflow gathering of about 200 people to help Robinson say goodbye to his mom one final time. Prior to the service, Robinson, Jamah and Jayla placed a white rose into their mother’s casket, while Robinson also placed a KU basketball jersey there and Jayla placed a stuffed toy Jayhawk next to Lisa.

“It was a beautiful service,” Self said. “It was sad, but also very uplifting. It was great to see that Lisa had so many family and friends come to pay their respects and pay tribute to her. I know our team was very glad and proud that we were able to come.”

Indeed, they were.

 

“We’re family, and this is something we wanted to do for Thomas,” senior guard Tyrel Reed said. “Thomas is our brother and he and Jayla are hurting. We’ll do anything we can to make sure they get through this. Our support will continue for them in the future; we want what is best for them. We want them to be in the best situation and have the utmost opportunities.”

Two days later, Robinson honored his mother by playing one of the best games of his career in KU’s emotional 90-66 victory over K-State in Allen Fieldhouse, scoring 17 points and grabbing nine rebounds in 20 minutes.

He dunked again and again. He battled under the boards. He even scored six straight points in a 54-second span during the second half.

It was one of the most inspirational and courageous performance ever displayed by a Jayhawk.

“I played tonight because I cannot sit around too long,” the 6-9, 237-pound Washington, D.C., native said afterwards. “I know my mother wouldn’t want me to sit around crying forever, but I keep going on and striving to reach my goals.”

The fans cheered his every move and every play, giving him a standing ovation when he entered the game at the 16:47 mark of the first half and the last time he left the contest with 1:04 remaining.

“That’s a special moment, that’s one he will never forget,” Self said. “We’re really proud of him and our team is really happy for him. This was an extra special game, not because it was K-State, but because it was one that probably for the first time, he had an opportunity to play for his mother.”

Robinson waved to the fans and blew a kiss when he left the game for the final time to say thanks for their overwhelming support.

“We have great people all across Kansas,” Robinson said. “This past month really has opened my eyes to how amazing this place is. It is beyond words to describe how I feel and the love that I have for the University of Kansas and the fans.

“The support that I received was beyond amazing, and the support is still coming,” Robinson added. “I know that I cannot physically say thank you to every person that has helped me, but if this could get out I just want to thank people that have tried to reach out to me or thought about me.”

The support has come from coast to coast as Robinson’s and Jayla’s plight became a national story, gripping the hearts of basketball fans and non-hoops fans alike. KU fans have reached out and even wanted to adopt Jayla, who for now, is living with her dad in D.C., while a college scholarship fund in her mother’s name has been set up for her by the family.

Over a thousand miles away here in Lawrence, Robinson continues to go about his business with a heavy heart. He has been a rock through this ordeal and somehow managing to have a smile on his face while playing the best basketball of his career in the four games following his mother’s funeral and emerging as one of the big sixth men in college basketball before persevering through more misfortune when he underwent surgery on Feb. 11 to repair a meniscus tear in his right knee.

Robinson (8.7 points and 6.4 rebounds in 15.2 minutes per game), who showed his unwavering spirit by remarkably bouncing back and playing 10 days later against Oklahoma State, averaged 12.8 points on 80 percent field-goal shooting (20-25) during that four-game stretch while shooting 73.7 percent from the free-throw line the last three games. Robinson is a 52.6 percent free-throw shooter for the season.

Self said T-Rob had been “more aggressive” and “putting himself in position to score.” 

“I think he’s a little bit more focused than what he was,” Self said. “I think reality has slapped him in the face. He’s playing for much more than himself right now. It’s going to be his obligation in someway shape or form to make sure his younger sister’s life is good, well beyond age 10, 12, 15, and he has a responsibility towards that. That’s what his mother would want, so I see a pretty good focus on him.”

Robinson will be a pivotal factor this March as the Jayhawks hope to make a big splash in the NCAA tournament. But no matter how far KU goes this postseason, Robinson has already passed his biggest test by overcoming extreme adversity and triumphing of the human spirit.

That’s won him great admiration from fans, his teammates, and coaches.

“I always liked him,” Self said. “I like all our guys. Thomas is a guy I really, really liked. Then after seeing how he’s handled everything, I think he’s become an unbelievable young man in a short amount of time. He’s a guy you go from like to really respecting. It’s one thing to like somebody, but it’s another thing to respect their core and who they are. He’s certainly got all of our respect in our locker room.”

Lisa Robinson would be proud.