Robinson is Mr. Clutch at Peach Jam

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. -- Russell Robinson knew that overtime meant more touches for Jackson Tigers power forward Al Jefferson. He knew that the undersized New York Gauchos big men were wearing down under the pounding Jefferson was dishing out.

Something had to be done. Robinson wanted the basketball.

With the 2003 Nike Peach Jam title on the line, Robinson pulled up from about 15 feet and as the buzzer sounded drilled a jumper that gave the Gauchos the 52-50 win and their second major AAU title of the season.

"I knew they couldn’t have a chance to get it back down to Al and get it into overtime," an exuberant Robinson said. "I didn’t want to miss. I knew we’d have some trouble with Jefferson in overtime."

Russell Robinson Profile Position: SG Projected: SG Height: 6-2 Weight: 175 HS: Rice (New York, N.Y.) Class: 2004 Senior Bio: Probably the top pure scorer in New York City in the '04 class. He’s smooth getting to the rim and has gone on some big runs in traveling team basketball. A little on the short side for a shooting guard, but he’s a major scorer and that’s not up for debate. Schools of Interest: UConn, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Kansas, Kentucky, Notre Dame, St. John's

Robinson didn’t miss and overtime was averted. His Gauchos had earned a hard-fought win. Robinson’s backcourt running mates Ronald Ramon and Sundiatta Gaines had used a perimeter-oriented attacking system to apply pressure to teams all week long and there was one jump shot left in the arsenal when it mattered most.

The loss did nothing to tarnish an impressive week by Jefferson. The Arkansas (or NBA bound?) man-child put numbers up each time out. He’s in the midst of a great summer run.

Speaking of great summer runs. A.J. Price of the Riverside Church program not only has made the transition from shooting guard to point man, but he’s done it so well that he’s challenging some of the established PGs for supremacy in the top five at his position.

The Peach Jam was the launching pad for a handful of prospects. Andrew Brackman, an unheralded power forward with the All-Ohio team, had an impressive following by the end of the week. The athletic and efficient Brackman may prove difficult to recruit because the word on the streets is that he’s a big time pro prospect on the mound.

Jerome Habel, a power forward with the D.C. Blue Devils, had a bigger rep than Brackman but a less-than-impressive Nike All-American Camp was forgotten after a super week in Augusta. The lefty forward blocked enough shots, grabbed enough rebounds and converted enough hook shots to grab the attention of some high-major programs.

Any college coach who intends to work in his profession next year will tell you the importance of recruiting and getting face time with the young kids. Having said that, junior power forward Tyler Hansbrough of the St. Louis Eagles had a field day with face time last week.

Each time out, Hansbrough drew a crowd of elite level coaches. He’s quickly becoming a major priority for the nation’s best college programs. However, as good a prospect as he is, quite possibly the best prospect in the country was also at the Peach Jam.

Greg Oden, a 6-11 rising sophomore, has a bright future. He played with the Indiana Red team and his stock gets a little hotter every time out. We saw him three months ago at the Spiece Run ‘n Slam and it’s impossible to chronicle the strides he’s made with his game already. By the time the summer is over, he’s likely to be recognized as the best prospect (catch that, not player but prospect) in the country.

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