UD gets first commitment in 2012 class

Columbus Northland senior forward ranked No. 141 by Rivals.com.

Columbus Northland High School, which finished runner-up in the boys Division I state basketball tournament last season, won all three of its games in the University of Dayton team camp last weekend, and coach Sean Taylor said senior-to-be Jalen Robinson was a big reason behind that dominant run.

Asked what got into his 6-foot-9 forward, Taylor said: “He looked like he wanted a scholarship offer. That’s what it was. He was really aggressive and showed his skills.”

Robinson emerged from the camp with just that — getting an offer of a full ride from UD on Sunday and accepting it on Monday.

“I felt real comfortable with the coaching staff,” he said. “I really believe in what’s going on at Dayton, and I feel like I can be a big part of helping them win.”

Robinson made the Rivals.com list of the nation’s top-150 recruits for 2012 at No. 141. Only three other Ohio players cracked the ratings. He was being recruited by Florida State, Tennessee and Wisconsin and had scholarships waiting for him at Western Kentucky, Kent State, Akron and Ohio U.

He made a verbal commitment to West Virginia after his freshman year but then de-committed in 2010. “I wanted to see what else was out there for me. I thought I committed too early,” he said.

Robinson, who averaged 13 points and 10 rebounds, is UD’s first commitment in the 2012 class, although Georgetown transfer Vee Sanford also will be eligible beginning in ’12. The Flyers still have four other scholarships left to give.

Reggie Rankin, a former UD assistant who is now a recruiting analyst for ESPN.com, said Robinson is “a real good athlete, a combo forward, very active. I think he’s a really good ‘get’ for them.”

Taylor, who graduated from Meadowdale, added: “His ceiling is limitless, really. Once he gets in the weight room and works with the strength coach over there, the sky’s the limit.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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