In the world of college sports, athletes face many ups and downs. From grueling seasons that cause wear and tear on the body. To balancing a schedule that is not quite ideal and trying to grow as a young adult as well.

Davion Robinson figured that out early on into his freshman year at the University of Antelope Valley. Robinson battle a tear in his meniscus most of his first collegiate season, as well as adapting to his new schedule and environment for the next four years. But like any athlete on and off the court, he found a way to adapt as well as prevail through obstacles thrown at him which has fueled him for a much more improved sophomore season.

Robinson reflects on his freshman season as a “learning year” as he was sidelined and forced to watch. Many would take this time to relax and not remain focused but Robinson states he “tried to stay in the gym as much as possible whether or not” he practiced and also highlights learning from many of the upperclassmen teammates his team featured. Robinson says “my time off made me slow my horses down and evaluate my situation much better and plan things out strategically”.

Since being cleared, Robinson finished his freshman season out and has been taking his off season to “pay attention to detail and develop great habits, not just good”. His hunger and drive to succeed comes from a family legacy that he is now seemingly becoming apart of. He comes from a family of high school stand-outs, college stand-outs and a former NBA star of a cousin, Nate Robinson while being extended family of NBA legend Doug Christie. The family he comes from is prestigious and historical in the state of Washington but Robinson says he “has dreams bigger than Seattle, WA” and that in fact he wants to “represent Las Vegas and Seattle on a bigger platform”. As his social media has grown, he’s been able to reach a bigger audience as he’s already stimulated a 16-thousand following on Instagram that grows daily. He states his audience “comes from genuine support of people who know my family members and younger kids who look up to me”.

Robinson has realized that for basketball is bigger than basketball and that he has become a notable figure for a younger generation in areas he comes from. He uses this as motivation as he has been going through his off season extremely focused on strengthening his body, being in “tip-top shape” as well as studying some of his favorite players and “immolating their game to a tee”. These players feature Carmelo Anthony and Reggie Miller just to name a couple.

Davion Robinson is a hungry underclassman who took lessons from his unforeseen, unfortunate circumstances that many college athletes go through. From injury he saw it as an opportunity and chance to focus and genuinely take care of his body. Him home-sickness he saw as a time to grow and become his own individual. And his schedule he still claims as “the dirty work that’ll allow me to enjoy the fruits of my labor later”. As he has goes through an off-season that he says is his “season of separation” Robinson looks to grow as an individual, improve as an athlete and remain hungry to perform at “a high level next season”.