Villanova Basketball 2020-2021 Player Preview: Jeremiah Robinson-Earl

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl

Hometown: Kansas City, KS
High School: IMG Academy
Height: 6-9
Weight: 230

Player Preview

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl signed with Villanova in the fall of 2018. Hailing from Overland Park, Kan., he chose the ‘Cats over the hometown Jayhawks — continuing Jay Wright’s dominance over Bill Self. He was selected as a McDonald’s All-American and was expected to be an immediate contributor for the young Wildcats.

So far, the big man has lived up to the expectations. In his college debut against Army, JRE burst onto the scene with 24 points and 13 rebounds. That would be his first of nine double-doubles on the year, and he nearly averaged one — finishing with 10.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. Robinson-Earl was recognized for his outstanding play as he joined Omari Spellman, Scottie Reynolds and Tim Thomas as Nova’s only Big East Freshman of the Year award winners.

Going into year two, the sky seems to be the limit for JRE. On the offensive end, he’s shown good footwork around the rim and an improving shooting touch from the perimeter. Defensively, he’s no slouch either. He’s got good lateral quickness and showcases his athleticism on the glass. He made his share of mistakes on both ends but that was to be expected out of a freshman. I don’t think anyone is questioning this kid’s maturity and overall feel for the game.

JRE’s stellar play has garnered the attention of the national media for the upcoming season. He’s been tabbed to many All-Big East and All-American team watch lists, and is likely a big season away from first round NBA draft boards. With Villanova ranked third in the preseason poll and a challenging non-conference schedule ahead he’ll certainly have his chances to shine.

Best Case Scenario: Robinson-Earl takes the next step and becomes a real leader for the ‘Cats. He leads the team in rebounding once again, and is a steady second or third scoring option. He earns his share of individual accolades and proves himself to be the premier big man in the Big East.

Worst Case Scenario: JRE is undoubtedly the starting center and will be heavily relied upon all year. It’s hard to picture him taking a step back after being such a pleasant surprise in year one, so we’ll say the worst case would be more or less a repeat of his freshman campaign.

Wisdom of the Crowds