Former UConn basketball star Stanley Robinson dies at 32
Former UConn basketball player Stanley Robinson has died of unknown causes at a family residence in Birmingham, Alabama. He was 32.
Jefferson County Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said Robinson was found unresponsive by a family member Tuesday at 7:45 p.m. in his hometown. He was pronounced dead at the scene 11 minutes later.
Robinson, who had turned 32 on July 14, played at UConn from 2006 to 2010. The 6-foot-9 forward started 103 career games and averaged 9.8 points and 6.2 rebounds over four seasons.
The UConn Basketball family grieves the loss of a great player and an even greater person, Stanley “Sticks” Robinson. Our thoughts and prayers are with Stanley’s family at this difficult time 🙏
— UConn Men's Basketball (@UConnMBB) July 22, 2020
Rest In Peace, Sticks. pic.twitter.com/ihm5z0h1OK
He was Alabama's Mr. Basketball at Huffman High School and was a starting forward on the Huskies' Final Four team in 2008-09. CBSSports.com reports Robinson totaled 1,231 points, 776 rebounds and 130 blocks with UConn and was among the best dunkers and athletes in college basketball.
Yates said Birmingham police are investigating the death but that no evidence had been found of foul play or trauma. He said official cause of death was pending results of toxicology analysis and other tests.
"I am truly heartbroken," said Hall of Famer Jim Calhoun, Robinson's coach at UConn. "Stanley was such a beautiful person, caring and giving. He was a gentle soul, too gentle for this world.
"He was not only loved by his teammates, but everybody who met Sticks liked him. He will always be a Husky."
CBSSports.com reports Robinson took Calhoun's advice and left the team for a semester. He embraced blue-collar labor at a junkyard in Connecticut. Calhoun told ESPN.com at the time, "It wouldn't work with most kids, no way. Most kids would have said, 'Screw you.'"
Upon his return, Robinson got better, and eventually was drafted by the Orlando Magic in the second round of the 2010 NBA Draft but was waived on the last day of training camp. He played professionally internationally in places such as Canada, Iceland and Chile.