It didn’t take long for Nick Robinson to decide on Valparaiso as his destination after transferring from St. Joseph’s.
The Chicago Kenwood graduate visited Thursday and Friday, committing at the end of the trip while sitting in coach Matt Lottich’s office.
“I just fell in love with the coaching staff and everybody in the organization,” Robinson said Friday night. “It felt like a great fit for me, and my mom loved it as well. It felt like the right thing to do.”
Robinson already had a familiarity with Lottich and the Crusaders. Lottich, then an assistant, was the primary recruiter for Robinson when the 6-foot-6 guard was in high school.
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When Robinson was a senior at Kenwood, Valparaiso was one of his announced five finalists, along with Missouri-Kansas City, Indiana State, Illinois-Chicago and DePaul. He committed to Indiana State in October 2015 before decommitting in January 2016.
Robinson, who averaged 17 points and nine rebounds as a senior at Kenwood, committed to St. Joseph’s in April 2016 after also having taken an official visit to California.
Robinson averaged 7.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists as a sophomore this past season. He was named St. Joseph’s most improved player after averaging 5.2 points and 3.7 rebounds as a freshman.
He scored in double figures in each of the final seven games of this season, averaging 14.1 points and 7.1 rebounds during that stretch.
“I’m just a player who’s high character and willing to work,” Robinson said. “Whatever the coaches ask me to do, I’m willing to do.”
The St. Joseph’s news release announcing Robinson’s intention to transfer on June 29 cited “family circumstances.” Robinson declined to elaborate on the situation at St. Joseph’s, but expressed happiness about being close to home.
“It’s great to have my family be available to come to games, just an hour-15, hour-and-a-half away,” Robinson said. “That aspect helped a lot. I know for a fact my family will be able to see at least half my games.”
Robinson confirmed that he expected to sit out 2018-19, with two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Robinson also expected to begin classes Monday. He plans to major in marketing, with a minor in psychology.
“We got things done,” Robinson said. “I’m just looking forward to becoming part of the Valparaiso community and Valparaiso family.”
Robinson will take one of Valparaiso’s two remaining scholarships in its 2018 recruiting class. With no seniors currently slated to be on their roster, the Crusaders would like to use their final open scholarship to add a graduate transfer.