Former University of Virginia standout Jamal Robinson begins his second season as an assistant coach for the men’s team at Hampton University.
He grew up in Jamaica Queens, New York and Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School, where he helped lead the team to the league championship. Robinson was inducted into his high school’s Hall of Fame and his number was retired in 2001.
While playing at the University of Virginia, he received ACC Honorable mention, along with earning All-ACC Tournament honors. After college, he went on to train with various NBA teams including the Portland Trailblazers, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, and the Washington Wizards. Then ultimately signing a two-year contract with the Miami Heat.
Following his training within the NBA, Robinson played in both the CBA and the NBA Developmental League. With successes garnered on these levels, he continued his career internationally for a combined thirteen years winning multiple league championships and individual accolades.
Upon retirement, he used his years of experience on the court to create Elite Basketball Skill Development. Along with this he was selected to become a Nike elite level basketball instructor, participating in various Nike Elite Basketball Camps over the past eight years. His focus was skill development of high school, college and professional basketball players.
Robinson applies his unique blend of NBA, CBA, Developmental League, and international experiences to give clients/participants snapshots of both fundamentals of the international game as well as the run and gun aspects of the American style of play. The values of hard work, discipline, and balance between academics, athletics, and community involvement is what matters most to this dynamic player, coach, and mentor.
His teaching style is all encompassing of that of a player whose experienced both the highs and lows of the hardwood, understanding that an athlete’s God given talent can also lead to mediocrity. Providing athletes with a challenging, structured, competitive, yet fun atmosphere adds to the overall experience for both the players and parents. He believes that an advanced skill set as well as a high basketball IQ lends itself to what most players feel are the building blocks to making a good player great and great player phenomenal, hence his personal motivating mantra of “Be Phenomenal or Be Forgotten”.
Robinson currently lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he enjoys spending time with his family.
