GoHeels Exclusive: Workouts With Maye Help Robinson

by Pat James

CHAPEL HILL—As the players on the North Carolina men's basketball team sauntered out of the locker room for Tuesday's practice at the Smith Center, each gravitated toward one of eight baskets.

Brandon Robinson, the first Tar Heel on the court, claimed the basket opposite the risers. He casually took shots. He chatted with a student manager. And before Kenny Williams and Andrew Platek joined him on that end of the court, Robinson fashioned his practice jersey around his neck like a superhero's cape.

At times, Robinson appeared to embody such a persona last season. He admits to forcing some shots and striving to make too many impact defensive plays, all in an attempt to take advantage of the 7.6 minutes he averaged in 37 games.

But entering his sophomore campaign, one in which he figures to play an expanded role, Robinson says he doesn't feel as much self-imposed pressure.

"I just always wanted to come in and make a difference, and I would just kind of try too hard to make a difference because I knew I had a short amount of time to be on the court," Robinson says. "I think going in now I know I'll play more this year, so I'm just going to go in the game relaxed and let the game come to me and just make plays, just read and react."

Robinson occasionally demonstrated such abilities as a freshman.

He scored a season-high seven points in the victory over Long Beach State, and his late tip-in against Tennessee handed the Tar Heels the lead for good in a game they won without Joel Berry II and Theo Pinson. Robinson also proved to be a decent ball-handler, posting a 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio on the season.

But as a heralded shooter coming out of high school, Robinson shot just 34.4 percent (22-of-64) from the floor and 23.3 percent (7-for-30) on 3-pointers. His minutes decreased as the season progressed, and he scored five points in the final 13 games he played in.

Still, Robinson possessed confidence. And much of that came from watching Luke Maye.

Maye averaged just 5.4 minutes as a freshman during the 2015-16 season. But after seeing Maye help lead the Tar Heels to the 2017 NCAA championship, Robinson knew he could make a similar leap during his sophomore season. In hopes of doing so, he worked out with Maye this summer.

"I always made it a point for us to get in the gym together and shoot the ball," Robinson says. "Working out with him and being around Justin (Jackson), too, when he was here for the time after the season, a little bit for the summer, just us three in the gym together was big for me."

Offensively, Robinson says he's improved his shooting. On defense, he says he has a better understanding of where he needs to be on the floor and what Roy Williams is looking for.

"Brandon is shooting the ball well," Williams said. "Right now, he's sort of the leader of that blue team, but he's going to play. I think with the blue team he's pressing a little bit in practice trying to do so much because it's always competition, which I like because he doesn't like to lose.

"So I think he's doing more there than he'll have to do when he goes over to the other team. But he's doing some good things. He can't gain any weight, but he's doing some good things."

Adding weight was one of Robinson's biggest offseason goals. When it came to a diet plan, Robinson says strength and conditioning coach Jonas Sahratian told him, "If you see it, eat it." Thus, Robinson consumes at least five meals a day. He also snacks. His favorite meal for adding calories? A ribeye steak from Outback Steakhouse with two sweet potatoes on the side.

Despite those efforts, Robinson, who says he played at 165 pounds last season, currently weighs 170. But he feels much stronger.

"I can tell in my game when I come out here and play the difference between last year and this year," he says. "I'm a lot more physical, I can finish through contact, little bumps don't bother me and getting through screens is much easier."

Midway through Tuesday's practice, Robinson received a pass in transition and made a driving layup while being fouled. Moments later, he blocked a shot in the post, gathered the ball and dribbled nearly the length of the floor before passing the ball to Jalek Felton for a dunk.

The sequence was one of the most impressive by any player Tuesday. And it's such plays that have drawn the attention of Robinson's teammates.

Inside the bowels of the Smith Center after Late Night with Roy last Friday, reporters encircled Maye. They asked him about the unveiling of the NCAA championship banner, the freshmen and his expanded role, among other topics. He answered each question in stride.

But when asked about who the most improved player on the team is, Maye paused. He pondered. And after a brief moment, he issued perhaps his most definitive answer in five minutes of interviews.

"I think (Robinson) has really come on a lot," Maye said. "He made two big shots out there, he handles the ball great. I think he's really long and does a great job defensively. I really think he's going to step up big for us this year."

Players Mentioned

Joel Berry II

Jalek Felton

Luke Maye

Theo Pinson

Andrew Platek

Brandon Robinson

Kenny Williams

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