Kingston grad to play pro ball in Russia
Justin Robinson signs 2-year contract to play in VTB United League with Avtodor Saratov
Dobro pozhalovat’ Justin Robinson!
That means “welcome” in Russian, a language the former Kingston High and Monmouth University basketball standout is about to learn.
Robinson signed a two-year professional contract Tuesday morning with the Russian Avtodor Saratov team in the VTB United League, an international pro league that is the first tier of Russian club basketball.
The pro contract for the 2013 Freeman Player of the Year comes off a strong summer.
The 22-year-old Robinson went unselected in the NBA draft, but the Heat signed him to Miami’s 15-man Summer League squad, which played in Orlando and Las Vegas in July.
Robinson averaged 6.8 points, 1.0 assists and 0.8 steals in five games in Orlando and 12.6 points, 3.2 assists and 1.6 steals in five contests in Las Vegas.
The 5-foot-8 point guard is back in New Jersey, currently playing for Seaview Jeep in the Jersey Shore Basketball League. Defending champion Seaview played in the semifinals on Tuesday night.
Saratov is a port city on the edge of the Volga River in southern Russia, between the Ukrainian and Kazakhstan borders.
The VTB United League is one of the top circuits in Europe where less than 40 Americans competed in last season. That league doesn’t start up until October, but Avtodor
Saratov also participates in the International Basketball Federation’s 32-team European Basketball Champions League.
Avtodor Saratov begins BCL qualifier play on Sept. 19.
According to a story in the Asbury Park Press, Robinson received offers from teams in France, Italy and Spain in addition to Russia and has an opt-out for the
second year of the contract.
A fellow Kingston High star, Rachel Coffey, followed this same route. After her outstanding career at Syracuse, she signed to play with CSBT Alexandria in Romania’s Liga Nationala (National League).
Robinson finished his Monmouth career as the school’s all-time leading scorer at the Division I level with 2,003 points. He was second in Monmouth history in career field goals made (635), 3-point field goals (257), assists (495), steals (211) and minutes played (4,002).
A two-time Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Year, he also started more games at Monmouth (128), and was second in most games played (131). He was named a Lou Henson All-American as well as a Lute Olson AllAmerican, given to the country’s top players.
He also made the AP AllAmerica honorable mention for a second consecutive year and was an ECAC Player of the Year.
Robinson led the MAAC in scoring and finished averaging 19.7 points per game. He also led Monmouth in assists (4.8) and 3-point field goals (34).
In his senior year at Kingston, Robinson averaged 17 points, 6.4 assists, 3.9 steals and 3.8 rebounds in leading the Tigers to their first Section 9, Class AA championship in nine years and to a state quarterfinal.
Robinson, who finished with 924 career points, was named a state fourthteam AA All-Star by the New York State Sportswriters Association that season.