Four-star recruit Robinson commits to hoop Hogs

University of Arkansas coach Eric Musselman had another reason to be thankful on Thanksgiving Day when 4-star guard Khalen Robinson announced his oral commitment to the Razorbacks.

Robinson, 6-1, 170 pounds, of Oak Hill Academy in Virginia narrowed his list of schools down to Arkansas and Kansas before picking the Hogs. He also had scholarship offers from Illinois, Iowa State, TCU, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt and others.

Musselman’s player development and having former NBA point guard Earl Boykins on staff as the director of student-athlete development was a big part of Robinson’s decsion to be a Hog.

“They have Earl Boykins and he’s a small guard and he was in the league for 10-12 years, then just the playing style they have,” said Robinson, who attended Bryant as a junior. “That’s why I committed to Arkansas.”

ESPN rates Robinson a 4-star recruit, the No. 20 point guard and No. 90 overall prospect in the nation. Musselman had to play catch up with other schools after being hired in April.

Because other schools had offered scholarships to Robinson earlier, Musselman and the staff had to play catch up in developing a bond with him after arriving in Fayetteville in April and offering Robinson in June.

Robinson said Musselman showed him he was really wanted at Arkansas.

“Just the genuine love I was looking for that,” Robinson said. “That’s what made him catch up with all of the other schools that were recruiting me.”

Robinson was named to the Arkansas DemocratGazette first team All-Arkansas Preps team after averaging 18 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals a game and leading the Hornets to the Class 6A state title game as a junior.

He made his first visit to Fayetteville in August since Musselman’s hiring and made his official visit to Fayetteville for the Auburn football game on the Oct. 18-20 weekend along with Hog commitment and close friend Moses Moody. The two have known one another since youth basketball.

“We’ve been trying to play together the last couple of years, but if we didn’t play with each other we would still support each other no matter what,” Robinson said. “It’s big we have that connection on and off the court.”

Robinson, who wanted to announce his college decsion on his brother Kollin’s 12th birthday, said he and Moody have an unbreakable bond.

“If he’s down, I know how to lift him up and if I’m down he knows how to lift me up,” Robinson said. “That just comes from playing with each other when we were younger.”

He averaged 17.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists while playing for Pro Skills in Nike EYBL play during the spring and summer. He shot 41.3% from the field, 39.8% from beyond the three-point line and 82.9% from the free throw line.

The Razorback fan base has been very vocal in hoping Robinson becomes a Hog.

“The fan love from Arkansas is crazy,” he said. “I loved it.”

He joins Moody and Fort Smith Northside forward Jaylin Williams as Arkansas commitments. Jacksonville guard Davonte Davis signed with the Hogs on Nov. 19.

All four prospects are ESPN top 100 recruits. ESPN national recruiting director Paul Biancardi rated the Hogs class No. 6 nationally prior to Robinson’s commitment and said the addition of Robinson might vault the class into the top five.

Robinson, Williams and Moody plan to sign with Arkansas during the spring signing period that begins on April 15.

Oral commitments are nonbinding.