Robinson, Taylor Selected in the 2012 NBA Draft
June 28, 2012
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Robinson Draft Analysis (NBA.com)
NEWARK, N.J. – Big 12 Player of the Year and First Team All-American Thomas Robinson was selected with the fifth overall pick by the Sacramento and All-Big 12 First Teamer Tyshawn Taylor was selected 41st overall by the Portland Trailblazers, but his draft rights are believed to have been traded to the Brooklyn Nets in the 2012 NBA Draft Thursday night. Robinson is the highest drafted Jayhawk since Drew Gooden was the No. 4 overall selection in the 2002 NBA Draft.
The Washington, D.C. native, is the 10th Jayhawk to be drafted in the lottery since 2000, which is tied for the lead in the nation with Connecticut and North Carolina. The selections make Robinson the 14th and Taylor the 15th Jayhawk drafted under head coach Bill Self.
Since the inception of the Big 12 in 1996-97, KU has had 23 players drafted in the NBA, which is the most of any league member. Over the last decade, KU among the top-five for producing the most NBA Draft picks in the nation with 17. Three KU draft picks recently played for the 2012 NBA Championship, with 2008 second-rounder Mario Chalmers helping the Miami Heat win the crown.
“I want to thank the organization for taking me with the fifth pick and I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the organization,” Robinson said. “I didn’t really know where I was going to end up at, but this is a bit of a surprise. I didn’t work out for Sacramento at all and I probably talked to them once. I’m here, so I’m meant to be here.”
Robinson and Taylor helped lead Kansas to 32-7 record on the season, advancing to the school’s 14th Final Four where it finished runner-up, won its school-record eighth straight and 12th Big 12 regular-season championship and finished the year No. 2 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll and No. 6 in the Associated Press poll, which is released prior to the NCAA Tournament. Additionally, KU finished the season 16-0 in Allen Fieldhouse, upping its home-court winning streak to 22 games.
Robinson leaves Kansas as one of the most decorated players in school history. Declaring for the 2012 NBA Draft, the Washington, D.C., native became Kansas’ 28th Consensus All-American following his junior year where he was the only player in the Big 12 to average a double-double with 17.7 points and 11.9 rebounds per game. The 2012 Big 12 Player of the Year who was also named the conference’s player of the week four times, Robinson set a Kansas single-season record and led the nation with 27 double-doubles and his 463 rebounds were second only to former KU legend Wilt Chamberlain’s 510 boards in 1956-57. His 11.9 rebound average was second in NCAA Division I in 2011-12.
Taylor, from Hoboken, N.J., was a four-year starter at Kansas amassing a 127-21 record with four Big 12 regular-season titles, two Big 12 tourney championships, two NCAA Elite Eights and one Final Four. A Bob Cousy Award finalist as a junior and senior, Taylor was a two-time Big 12 Player of the Week in 2011-12 where he averaged 16.6 points and a team-best 4.8 assists per game. Taylor, who was named to numerous 2012 All-America teams as either a third team or an honorable mention selection, had 13 games of 20 or more points scored his senior season.
Robinson and Taylor are the 71st and 72nd Jayhawks to be drafted in Kansas men’s basketball history. It marks the third-straight year in which at least two Jayhawks have been selected in the draft.
Thomas Robinson Bio
Junior Season (2011-12): Started all 39 games during the season and averaged a career-high 31.8 minutes per game. Robinson led the team in scoring at 17.7 points per game and led the nation with 27 double-doubles and ranked second-nationally in rebounds per game at 11.9. His 11.9 rebounds per game ranked first in the Big 12, while his 17.7 points per game ranked tied for second. His 27 double-doubles this season moved him ahead of Drew Gooden (25 in 2002) for first place on the single-season list. Earlier this season, Robinson posted one of the most impressive games by a Jayhawk in a long time as he joined elite company when he scored 30 points and pulled down 21 rebounds against North Dakota (12/31). He became the first Jayhawk to score at least 30 points and record 20 rebounds since Wayne Hightower scored 36 points and grabbed 21 rebounds against Missouri on Feb. 13, 1961. Robinson was a consensus First Team All-American and helped lead the Jayhawks to the National Championship game.
Sophomore Season (2010-11): Averaged 14.6 minutes in 33 games with two starts… Was the Jayhawks’ most productive player off the bench, averaging 7.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game… Notched four double-doubles on the season… His 60.1 shooting percentage ranked second highest on the team… Scored a career-high 20 points off of 8-for-10 shooting against UT-Arlington (12/29)… Was Kansas’ leading rebounder in nine games… Missed the Jayhawks’ win at Colorado (1/25) to attend the funeral of his mother, Lisa… In the four games following his mother’s death, averaged 12.8 points on 17-of-25 shooting and 7.8 rebounds per game… Forced to sit out three conference games after knee surgery to repair torn cartilage… Pulled down a career high 14 rebounds in KU’s Sweet 16 win over Richmond (3/25)… Selected as one of 10 finalists for the V Foundation Comeback Award.
Freshman Season (2009-10): Played in 33 games with one start… Averaged 7.2 minutes, 2.5 points and 2.7 rebounds per game… Played 10-plus minutes in eight games… Appeared in 14 conference contests and four of five postseason games… Had 18 blocked shots which tied for third most on the team… Earned his first career start at Nebraska (1/13)… Recorded his first career double-double with a career-high 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting and 10 rebounds against Alcorn State (12/2)… Pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds against Central Arkansas (11/19).
Career Honors: 2011-12: Final Four All-Tournament Team… Consensus All-America First Team… AP First Team All-American… John R. Wooden Award All-American… Midwest Region MOP… Midwest Region All-Tournament Team… Naismith Award Finalist… NABC All-District 8 First Team… CBSSports.com First Team All-American… USBWA All- American First Team… Wooden Award Finalist… Sporting News All-American First Team… USBWA District VI Player of the Year… USBWA All-District VI… ESPN.com National Player of the Year… ESPN.com All-American First Team… Dick Vitale’s All-Solid Gold First Team… Big 12 Player of the Year (Big 12, AP)… All-Big 12 First Team (Big 12, AP)… Naismith Men’s College Player of the Year Midseason Watch List… Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Watch List… John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Candidate… Dick Vitale’s No. 1 Midseason National POY (1/4)… Oscar Robertson (USBWA) National Player of the Week (12/12)… Four-time Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week (11/28, 12/12, 1/2, 2/27)… EA SPORTS Maui Invitational All-Tournament Team… Associated Press Preseason All-America Honorable Mention… Preseason All-Big 12 First Team… Preseason Wooden Award list. 2010-11: V Foundation Comeback Award Finalist (one of 10).
Tyshawn Taylor Bio
Senior Season (2011-12): Taylor was a four-year starter at Kansas amassing a 127-21 record with four Big 12 regular-season titles, two Big 12 tourney championships, two NCAA Elite Eights and one Final Four. A Bob Cousy Award finalist as a junior and senior, Taylor was a two-time Big 12 Player of the Week in 2011-12 where he averaged 16.6 points and a team-best 4.8 assists per game. Taylor, who was named to numerous 2012 All-America teams as either a third team or an honorable mention selection, had 13 games of 20 or more points scored his senior season. He started all but one game during his senior campaign and averaged a team-high 33.4 minutes per game. Taylor fared well against the eight ranked foes Kansas faced during the regular season in 2011-12 averaging 19.1 points, 4.9 assists and shooting 48.0 from the field, 50.0 percent from three-point range. He finished fifth in the Big 12 in scoring, sixth in assists, seventh in steals and ninth in assist-to-turnover ratio.
Junior Season (2010-11): Started all but seven games for the Jayhawks… Averaged 9.3 points per game, ranking third highest on the team… Led the team in assists with 164… Ranked fourth in the Big 12 in assists, notching 4.6 per game… Selected as one of 20 Bob Cousy Award finalists… Averaged 12.7 points per game over Kansas’ last six contests… Ranked third on the team in free throw shooting, hitting 71.9 percent of his attempts… Dished out three or more assists in 30 of the 36 games he appeared in… Shot a career best 38 percent from three-point range, going 19-of-50 from behind the arc… Scored a season-high 20 points in the Big 12 Championship game against Texas (3/12), also dishing out five assists and collecting four rebounds… Shot 50 percent or better from the field in 26 games, including six games in postseason play… Recorded his season’s only double-double with a 17 point-10 assist outing against Longwood (11/12)… His 1.69 assist-to-turnover ratio ranked eighth in the Big 12… Collected a career-high six rebounds in a win at Michigan (1/9).
Sophomore Season (2009-10): Started 25 of 36 games, including the last 10 contests… Averaged 7.2 points per game, which ranked fifth best on the team… Second on the team with 121 assists… Ranked 12th in the Big 12 with 3.4 assists per game… Had 12 games with five-plus assists… Ranked 10th in the Big 12 in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.9 (121 assists, 61 turnovers)… Shot 50 percent or better in 16 games, including 10 times in Big 12 play… Scored in double figures 10 times, with seven in conference action… His 19 three-pointers tied for fourth most on the team… Had multiple three-pointers three times… Stepped up his play in conference action averaging 8.1 ppg… Was third on the team with a 71.6 free throw percentage… Had 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting with six assists against Colorado (2/20)… Scored 12 points, including going 8-for-9 from the free throw line in the overtime victory at Kansas State… Was 6-for-8 from the field with 13 points against California (12/22)… Scored a season-high 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting against Tennessee Tech (11/27).
Freshman Season (2008-09): Started all but two games… KU’s third-leading scorer at 9.7 ppg… Ranked second among Big 12 freshmen in scoring (9.7 ppg), assists (3.0 apg) and steals (1.1 spg)… Named to the Big 12 All-Rookie Team by the conference coaches and the Big 12 All-Freshman team by the media… Was a four-time Big 12 Rookie of the Week, the most ever for a Jayhawk… Reached double figures in scoring in 18 games… Had three 20-point efforts… Was second on the team with 104 assists… Scored a career-high 26 points on 8-of-13 shooting in win at No. 3 Oklahoma (2/23)… Pulled down a career-high six rebounds at Iowa State (1/24)… Made a career-high nine free throws against Kansas State (1/13), scoring 20 points… Had 12 points against Tennessee (1/3)… Led KU in assists with eight against Temple (12/20) to go along with 11 points and four steals… Had first career double-double with 10 points and 11 assists against Jackson State (12/6)… Netted 23 points against New Mexico State (12/3)… Had 17 points on 8-of-13 shooting against Syracuse (11/25) in the CBE Classic championship game.
Career Honors: 2011-12: AP Third Team All-American… Midwest Region All-Tournament Team… Bob Cousy Award Finalist… NABC All-District 8 First Team… CBSSports.com Third Team All-American… Sporting News All-American Third Team… USBWA All-District VI… Dick Vitale’s All-Solid Gold Third Team… ESPN.com All-American Third Team… All-Big 12 First Team (Big 12, AP)… Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week (3/4)… Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week (1/16)… Bob Cousy Award Candidate… Athlon Preseason All-American Honorable Mention… All-Big 12 Second Team… Lindy’s Preseason All-Big 12 First Team, No. 10 Point Guard. 2010-11: Big Cousy Award Finalist (one of 20)… Preseason All-Big 12 Honorable Mention. 2008-09: Big 12 All-Rookie Team… Big 12 All-Freshmen Team (media)… CBSSportsline.com Freshman All-America Third Team… Phillips 66 Big 12 Rookie of the Week (March 2)… Phillips 66 Big 12 Rookie of the Week (Jan. 19) … Phillips 66 Big 12 Rookie of the Week (Dec. 5) … Phillips 66 Big 12 Rookie of the Week (Dec. 22).
Kansas Overall Draft Selections
Year – name (round)
1948 – Otto Schnellbacher (Providence region)
1952 – Clyde Lovellette (1)
1953 – Dean Kelley (8), Gil Reich (11)
1954 – B.H. Born (3), Alan Kelley (7)
1957 – Maurice King (6)
1958 – Wilt Chamberlain (1)
1959 – Ron Loneski (10)
1961 – Wayne Hightower (1), Bill Bridges (3)
1963 – Nolen Ellison (4)
1966 – Walt Wesley (1), Al Lopes (13)
1967 – Ron Franz (10)
1968 – Roger Bohnesnstiel (9)
1969 – Jo Jo White (1), Dave Nash (4), Bruce Sloan (11)
1971 – Roger Brown (3), Dave Robisch (5), Pierre Russell (13)
1972 – Bud Stallworth (1)
1974 – Ken Koenigs (5)
1975 – Rick Suttle (7), Roger Morningstar (8)
1976 – Norm Cook (1)
1977 – Herb Nobles (6)
1978 – John Douglas (6)
1979 – Paul Mokeski (2), Randolph Carroll (10)
1981 – Darnell Valentine (1), Art Housey (3), John Crawford (7)
1982 – Tony Guy (2), David Magley (2)
1984 – Carl Henry (4), Brian Martin (9)
1986 – Greg Dreiling (2), Ron Kellogg (2), Calvin Thompson (4)
1988 – Danny Manning (1), Archie Marshall (3)
1990 – Kevin Pritchard (2)
1991 – Mark Randall (1)
1993 – Rex Walters (1), Adonis Jordan (2)
1994 – Darrin Hancock (2)
1995 – Greg Ostertag (1)
1997 – Scot Pollard (1), Jacque Vaughn (1)
1998 – Raef LaFrentz (1), Paul Pierce (1)
1999 – Ryan Robertson (2)
2001 – Eric Chenowith (2)
2002 – Drew Gooden (1)
2003 – Nick Collison (1), Kirk Hinrich (1)
2005 – Wayne Simien (1)
2007 – Julian Wright (1)
2008 – Brandon Rush (1), Darrell Arthur (1), Mario Chalmers (2), Darnell Jackson (2), Sasha Kaun (2)
2010 – Cole Aldrich (1), Xavier Henry (1)
2011 – Markieff Morris (1), Marcus Morris (1), Josh Selby (2)
2012 – Thomas Robinson (1), Tyshawn Taylor (2)
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