Robinson Returns Home to Lead FSU Back to March Madness

Anthony Robinson II played his high school basketball just seven miles from the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center. Now he’s heading back home with one goal to help lead the Seminoles back to the NCAA Tournament. 

Robinson’s homecoming gives second-year coach Luke Loucks an experienced point guard who should be able to bring together the pieces of a completely rebuilt roster.

Loucks can recruit talented scorers at every position, but without someone to keep the offense organized and limit turnovers, Florida State would struggle to take the next step.

“Anthony is exactly what you look for in a point guard, tough, vocal, and someone who naturally commands respect. We expect him to step in right away and lead,” Loucks said.

Robinson will need to be the maestro directing the offense, keeping his teammates in rhythm while limiting turnovers.

His 98 assists against 54 turnovers last season give him a solid foundation as a playmaker.

But if the Seminoles hope to reach the NCAA Tournament in Loucks’ second season, the coaching staff will need to find a way to get more out of the senior guard.

Robinson must become a more effective playmaker, improving his assist-to-turnover ratio from 1.8:1 to at least 2:1.

Florida State’s offensive success will depend on how well Robinson gets his teammates involved while limiting turnovers.

Then there is the question: Can he become a consistent scorer, giving the Seminoles another offensive threat?

Robinson shot 41 percent from the field last season and averaged 8.1 points per game for the Missouri Tigers.

While those numbers are respectable, he will need to improve his shooting percentage and scoring to become a more reliable offensive option for Florida State.

If Robinson can raise his shooting percentage to 44–45 percent, he will be a more consistent scoring threat. Defenses would have to respect his ability to score.  He would be creating more room for the offense and open up one-on-one opportunities for his teammates.

“We believe that with Anthony's defensive intensity and offensive skill, he can be one of the most well-rounded and productive point guards in the ACC," Loucks said. 

Before heading home, Robinson spent three seasons at Missouri, playing in 96 games.

During that time, he averaged 7.3 points and 2.8 assists per game while shooting 42% from the field. Robinson also averaged 1.3 turnovers per game across his three seasons.

Robinson entered the portal on March 30 as a four-star prospect according to 247Sports, ranked as the 137th player nationally and the 25th point guard, and committed to Florida State on April 16.

Robinson played his high school basketball at Florida State University School, where he won 109 games, earning first-team All-State honors as a junior.

He helped lead his high school team to a Class 3A state championship and four district titles. He earned All-Big Bend honors as a junior. Robinson was named Big Bend Player of the Year as a senior.

Despite his high school accomplishments, the 247Sports Composite rankings listed Robinson as a three-star recruit, ranked No. 166 nationally, No. 21 among point guards in his class and No. 20 in Florida.

Robinson II returns home to Tallahassee with a chance to help Florida State return to the NCAA Tournament. If he can control the offense while becoming a more consistent scorer, his homecoming could prove to be the difference and exactly what the Seminoles needed.