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1 year agoon
Orlando Robinson, who has anchored the Fresno State basketball team for three seasons, is in Chicago performing before NBA scouts today.
According to the university, Robinson is attending the NBA Draft Combine, which runs today through Friday.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski additionally reports that the Las Vegas native will hire an agent. But, according to Fresno State, which would love for their big star to come back, Robinson has “retained his eligibility to return for his senior season by hiring an NCAA-certified agent.”
Fresno State 7-footer Orlando Robinson will stay in the 2022 NBA Draft and hire an agent, sources tell ESPN. He averaged 19 points and 8 rebounds as a junior. Robinson is in Chicago for the Draft Combine this week.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 17, 2022
The 7-foot Robinson was named to the All-Mountain West first team after averaging 19.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.2 blocks, and one steal in 36 games for the Bulldogs in 2021-22.
Though he didn’t generate a lot of hype nationally, Robinson could increase his stock with a strong showing at the combine.
NBA analysts recently have said that Robinson has a chance to be a late first-round pick. Generally, he earns high marks for his continued improvement while at Fresno State, his polished offensive moves, and his positive attitude. The knocks against him are that he isn’t considered an elite athlete and he has limited experience against top-tier competition.
A late first-round selection earns about $1.8 million as a rookie, according to basketball.realgm.com.
Robinson is one of two players in NCAA history with at least 700 points, 300 rebounds, and 100 assists in a season. During the 2021-22 season, Robinson had 700 points, 301 rebounds, and 103 assists. He led the Bulldogs to a 23-13 overall record last season.
And, even though coach Justin Huston’s team missed the NCAA Tournament, the Bulldogs won the four-game post-season Basketball Classic, Presented by Eracism with big contributions from Robinson.
You can read more about Robinson’s NBA prospects at nbascoutinglive.com.
ESPN and ESPB2 will provide coverage of the combine on Thursday and Friday.
Fresno State has had 31 former players earn NBA roster spots.
Twenty-one were drafted, including five in the first round: Bernard Thompson (1984), Courtney Alexander (2000), Melvin Ely (2002), Chris Jefferies (2002), and Paul George (2010).
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email