Blue White Illustrated

CATCHING FIRE as Allen Robinson surges to the front of Penn State's receiving line A consequential decision pays off A GET A GRIP It took only six games for Robinson to surpass last season's leading pass catcher, Derek Moye. Heading into the Iowa game, the sophomore wideout had amassed 41 receptions for 524 yards. | llen Robinson had a choice to make. As a senior at St. Mary's Prep just outside of Detroit, the Rivals.com three-star wide receiver had attracted scholarship offers from Penn State and several other Big Ten programs. But he also was a talented basketball player who had gotten the attention of Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, among others. For some multisport high school athletes, deciding which sport to play in college is an agonizing process. But that wasn't the case with Robinson. A close friend of former Spartans point guard Kalin Lucas, he quickly realized that his decision wouldn't be complicated at all. He could focus on football, and through hard work and ded- ication, perhaps earn an opportunity to play in the National Football League. Or he could focus on hoops and probably wind up in Europe. That's what happened to Lucas. A former St. Mary's Prep star himself and a family friend of the Robinsons, he finished his collegiate career as one of only four Michigan State players with more than 1,500 points and 500 assists. But his best option coming out of college was to play basketball in Greece. These days, he's suiting up for a team called Banvit in the Turkish Basketball League. "Just seeing all Kalin's success, they were saying he would be a late [NBA] draft pick, maybe in the second round, and he ended up going to play overseas," Robinson said. "Year in and year out, so many good players have to go play overseas. There just aren't enough spots. That's just what it is." Robinson took some lessons from Lucas's experience and used the guidance of his parents, Allen Sr. and Tracie, as well as that of his high school mentors, to make his decision. Just

• Cover