The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/362774
COMMITMENT PROFILE Duncan Robinson was about 6‑3 when Michigan coaches first noticed him in prep school at Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, N.H, and he was just a bit small for his skill set to be considered a high‑major player. Four inches (he's now 6‑7 1 ⁄2) and a couple years later, the Williams College transfer is on his way to Ann Arbor for a year of strength training and practice preceding what he hopes to be three outstanding years on the court at Michigan. Robinson has always been a confident player. Making the jump from Division III Williams in Williamston, Mass., to a program that's been to the Final Four and the Elite Eight in consecutive years, however, was a decision that required some soul searching. He discussed the situation with his for‑ mer AAU and high school coaches, his best friends and new Williams coach Kevin App. In the end, he went with what was in his heart. "I spoke to all of them," he said. "I reached out to other schools re‑ cruiting me and some of the people I have been talking with before. No one really pushed me in any direc‑ tion — just encouraged me to believe in myself and take the opportunity I thought was best." He had an idea what that might be when Williams head coach Mike Maker left for Marist College at the end of the season. Robinson reached out to his coach for help with his next step, asking specifically about Michigan. He was familiar with the offense — he ran a variation at Williams under Maker, a former John Beilein assistant at West Vir‑ ginia — and thought he might fit. "I've always said I think level is overrated. I think the right fit is the most important thing, and I think Duncan is the right fit for Coach Beilein and their system," Maker said. "A lot of that has to do with who Duncan is as a person. He's a wonderful teammate and has a high basketball IQ with a great skill set." The question was, did U‑M — and Robinson — think he could play at that level? The U‑M coaches loved his film, and Robinson admitted a week before his official visit he was leaning heavily toward accepting a Michigan offer if the Wolverines ex‑ tended one. He took a trip to Davidson and was impressed, and other schools such as Creighton were heavily recruiting him. U‑M, though, was everything Michigan Welcomes Transfer Duncan Robinson R o b i n s o n c o m e s t o t h e Wolverines from Division III Williams in Williamston, Mass., where he was the team's second-leading scorer last season with an average of 17.1 points per game. PHOTO COURTESY WILLIAMS COLLEGE